The most awaited 4 match test series between India and Australia will begin on 6th December 2018. Under the captaincy of Virat Kohli, India lost 2 overseas test tours losing to South Africa 1-2 in January and then to England 1-4 in August- September.
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Australia has announced their squad for the first two test matches. This series gives India their best chance of winning first test series in Australia as the hosts will be without their star batsmen David Warner and Steve Smith. In the 2014 tour of Australia, Virat Kohli did captaincy and will return to Australia as a full-time captain.
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In the 2014 test tour of Australia, India lost the 4 match test series 0-2. It promises to be a cracking series between top two test teams. Australia is currently struggling to lose to Pakistan 0-1 in UAE. Both teams have top quality players which can change the course of the game.
Here we look at the top 12 players to watch out for in India- Australia 2018/19 test series:-
1. Virat Kohli
The Indian test captain has been in sensational form during the 2 overseas test series this year. He was the top run-getter during 3 match test series against South Africa in South Africa with 286 runs from 3 matches (6 innings).
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Kohli has played a total of 73 test matches (124 innings) and scored 6331 runs with the best score of 243 runs. In 2018, Kohli has been in special form during test matches scoring 1063 runs in 10 matches ( 18 innings) with 4 centuries and 4 half century.
He continued his superb form in England scoring, 593 runs from 5 matches (10 innings) with 2 centuries and 3 half centuries. When the Indian team toured Australia in 2014, Virat Kohli showed his class with the bat scoring 692 runs in 4 matches ( 8 innings) with 4 centuries and 1 half century.
In the previous two overseas tours this year, Kohli has been the backbone of Indian batting line up. Kohli would be looking to continue his superb batting form during the 4 match test series starting from 6th December. He likes Australian conditions because he has scored 5 centuries from 8 matches.
This will be important for Virat Kohli as a captain to select playing XI correctly and hope that he leads India to their first ever test win on Australian soil.
2. Mitchell Starc
Mitchell Starc is one of the premier fast bowlers for Australia. He will be important for Australia to pick early wickets and trouble the Indian batsmen with pace. In 2017/18 Ashes played in Australia, Starc took 22 wickets from 4 matches (8innings) and made that Australia wins the series 4-0.
Starc has played so far 45 test matches for Australia ( 86 innings) and taken 186 wickets with an economy of 3.40 runs per over. In his test career so far, he has grabbed 5 wickets in an innings 5 times and once 10 wickets in a match.
If the conditions in test series help the fast bowlers, then Mitchell Starc will be a big threat and can create havoc with his lethal bowling.
3. Prithvi Shaw
The young Prithvi Shaw impressed one and all in his debut test series against West Indies at home. He made 237 runs in 2 matches (3 innings). He scored quick fire 134 runs at Rajkot and helped India post a massive total.
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Shaw is almost certain to open the innings for India in the first test match to be played at Adelaide Oval from 6th December will be looking to impress on his 1st Australian tour. With openers struggling to give starts in South Africa and England this year, Shaw will face a test against top quality Australia bowling line up.
It will be important for Shaw to give India a good start so that others can build to post a massive total.
4. Nathan Lyon
Nathan Lyon is one of the best off-spinners in test cricket at present moment. He made his test debut against Sri Lanka in 2011., Lyon has played 80 test matches (103 innings) so far and taken 318 wickets with an economy of 3.06 runs per over.
During 2018 test matches, Lyon has picked 32 wickets from 7 matches ( 14 innings)
In his test career so far, Lyon has taken 5 wickets in an innings 12 times and 10 wickets in a match twice. During the test series against Pakistan in UAE, Lyon took 12 wickets from 2 matches ( 4 innings) and was impressed with his flight.
Lyon was the leading wicket-taker during India’s test tour of Australia in 2014. He took 23 wickets from 4 matches (8 innings) with 5 wickets in a match twice and 10 wickets in a match once.
Nathan Lyon will play a key role for Australia in the upcoming test series against India. His role is to pick important wickets and also stem the flow of runs against top quality Indian batting line up.
5. Ajiynka Rahane
The most reliable Indian batsman in overseas conditions has been struggling for form. He was dropped from the playing XI for the first two test matches in South Africa and made valuable contributions in 3rd test at Johannesburg which Indian team won.
He has played so far 52 test matches (88 innings) and scored 3271 runs with best score of 188.
In the five-match test series against England in England, Rahane scored 257 runs from 5 matches (10 innings) with 2 half centuries.
When India toured Australia in 2014 test series, Rahane showed his class with the bat scoring 399 runs from 4 matches (8 innings) with the best score of 147. He scored 1 century and 2 half-centuries to his name.
The upcoming test series starting from 6th December will be a brilliant chance to prove his worth and regain his lost form in test cricket this year.
6. Shaun Marsh
Without David Warner and Steve Smith, Shaun Marsh needs to stand up in a weak Australian batting line up. He made his test debut for Australia in 2011 against Sri Lanka. He has played 34 test matches (61 innings) and scored 2082 runs with best score of 182.
In 2018, Shaun Marsh has scored 317 runs from 7 matches ( 13 innings) with 1 century only.
The left-handed batsman struggled in 2 test matches against Pakistan that was played in UAE. Shaun Marsh did a decent job against India during 2014 test series scoring 254 runs from 3 matches (6 innings) with 2 half-centuries to his name.
Shaun Marsh should look to bat well and help Australia post a decent total against strong Indian bowling line up who has been in sensational form during 2018.
7. Jasprit Bumrah
Jasprit Bumrah has become the key bowler for India since making his test debut against South Africa in South Africa this year. In his debut series, Bumrah took 14 wickets in 3 matches (6 innings) and impressed one and all with his bowling skills.
He did not play the first two test matches in England due to injury. Bumrah returned to playing XI from third test onwards and continued his superb form with the ball. So far in his test career, the star bowler has taken 28 wickets from 6 test matches ( 11 innings) with best figures of 5/54. He has taken 2 wickets haul so far.
Bumrah will play a key role for team India in the upcoming test series against Australia. With his unorthodox action, it can create big trouble for Australian batsmen and make life tough for hosts.
8. Josh Hazlewood
Josh Hazlewood another top quality bowler for Australia will play a key role in the upcoming test series against India. He bowls stump to stump and creates a big problem for Indian batsmen with his height.
He made his test debut, for Australia during the 2014 test series against India in Australia. Since his debut, he has taken 151 wickets from 40 matches (43 innings) with 6 times taking 5 wickets in an innings. During the 2014 test series against India, Hazlewood took 12 wickets from 3 matches (6 innings) and made sure that Australia wins the series 2-0.
Hazlewood played his last test match during 4 match test series against South Africa in South Africa. During the 2017/18 Ashes, the pace bowler took 21 wickets in 5 matches (9 innings) and made sure Australia win Ashes 4-0.
Josh Hazlewood along with Mitchell Starc would play a key role in providing early wickets and make sure to keep the pressure on Indian batsmen.
9. Kuldeep Yadav
The left arm Chinamen Kuldeep Yadav was the star of the show for India in the T20I series against Australia. He took 4 wickets in 3 match T20I series and was economical not allowing Australian batsmen to score runs easily.
He made his test debut against Australia in 2017 at Dharamsala. Since then he has played 5 test (6 innings) matches and taken 19 wickets. During the home test series against West Indies, Yadav picked his first five-wicket haul in test cricket.
Kuldeep Yadav would be a big threat for the Australian if included in the playing XI. With the first test match to be played at Adelaide Oval, Yadav will be a major threat with his variations and can create big trouble with Australian batsmen.
10. Usman Khawaja
The experienced left-handed batsman Usman Khawaja will play the first test match against India starting from 6th December 2018. He made his test debut for Australia in 2011 against England. He has played 35 test matches ( 60 innings) and scored 2455 runs.
During the first test match against Pakistan in UAE, Khawaja played one of his best knocks in Asia scoring 141 runs while opening the innings during a massive run chase. He was awarded the man of the match for his marathon effort.
Khawaja has scored 565 runs from 7 test matches ( 12 innings) with 2 centuries and 3 half-centuries to his name.
With no David Warner and Steve Smith in the squad, Usman Khawaja needs to play a big role and provide a solid foundation for a big total.
11. Umesh Yadav
Umesh Yadav is one of fastest bowlers who can trouble every batsman in the world. In the test series against England in England, Yadav played only 1 test match and then could not find a place in the playing XI.
He made his test debut for India against West Indies in 2011. Since his debut, Yadav has played 40 test matches (78 innings) and taken 117 wickets with 5 wickets in an innings twice. He was at his lethal during the 2nd test match against West Indies at Hyderabad picking up 10 wickets in a match.
In the year 2018, Umesh Yadav has taken so far 18 wickets so far. In the last test tour to Australia, Umesh Yadav took 11 wickets from 3 matches (6 innings). With Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Ishant Sharma, Mohammed Shami, Bumrah in the squad, there are chances that he might be selected in playing XI.
12. Pat Cummins
Pat Cummins is another dangerous bowler in the current Australian squad. He made his test debut for Australia against South Africa in 2011. His ability to bowl quick and surprise the batsmen makes him a decent bowler.
He has played a total of 14 test matches ( 22 innings) and taken 66 wickets. Cummins has 5 wickets in a match twice and 4 wickets haul 6 times. In the 2017/18 Ashes series, the fast bowler was the top wicket-taker with 23 wickets and ripped the England batting line up. Cummins played his last test match in 2018 against South Africa. He has taken 30 wickets from 5 matches ( 10 innings) in test matches during 2018.
Cummins along with Starc, Hazlewood and Lyon would pose a major threat. If Australia is to win the test series, Cummins needs to play a major role.