Around the Wicket - 2nd Test Preview

India vs Australia – 2nd Test Preview

OK, off to Mohali for the 2nd test, in what is possibly the most crucial match of the series. A win here for either side means the other side has to win the final two tests to win the series.

So what can we expect from the Mohali pitch? Well the ground was built in 1992, and has only had 7 test matches ever played on it, so there’s not much we can read into this ground historically. Of those 7 matches, India has lost just once (the first test played there, they lost to the Windies… who’d have thought it?). On the other hand, they’ve only won twice, and there’s been 4 draws. That suggests to me that it’s probably going to be an easy paced batting pitch, and the word coming out of India is that it will have substantially more bounce than Bangalore. I guess Brad Haddin will be happy to hear that. Australia has never played a test at Mohali and only 4 ODI’s – so this ground will be new to them. It once had a reputation as being the liveliest pitch in the country, but guess what. After 1999, it turned into a dead track, and now produces high scoring draws. For the punters out there, the draw is the favourite with TAB Sportsbet at $2.10, with an India win at $3.10, and an Australia win at $3.40. I wonder when Australia last started a test match at $3.40 to win… worth a couple of bob maybe?

So another New South Welshman has succumbed to injury – to be replaced by a big strong Bushranger. Peter Siddle will make his test debut on Friday, as Stuey Clark has been ruled out with his elbow niggle. Word is that he had a cortisone injection in the area, which would have cleared it up, but it became infected. I wonder whether Siddle is the right choice though. Bollinger was more impressive last domestic season, and bowled well in the A tour last month. Sadly for the Frenchman, he will be running the drinks again. Big Psycho Siddle must impress someone on the selection committee? Maybe Merv? Anyway - I would expect Cam White to play as well. He didn’t disgrace himself in the 1st test (unlike Krezja in the Board XI tour match) and will be much better for the experience. Bear is a quick learner, and I’d expect him to continue to improve if given the opportunity.

India will probably go unchanged, there’s talk that Kumble might not be fit to play – but I think he’ll be ok. Again – he bowled in the 2nd dig, so he’ll wrap himself in cotton wool and be ready to go by Friday. There’s talk that with tests being played so close together, the Indians are concerned about the work load on the two seamers. Will we see Irfan Pathan brought into the side at the expense of a batsman? Maybe Ganguly? Dravid? Laxman? I doubt it. Expect them to have an unchanged line up.

What do I expect out of this test? I’m tipping a high scoring draw. For the Aussies, expect Michael Clarke to make a big score, along with Hussey. I’d also expect Tendulkar, Dravid and Laxman to make big runs for India. It’s going to be a nightmare for bowlers here, so it’s vital that fielders hold their catches, and get the run outs when they’re on offer. With an aging, generally unfit side, how will the Indians fare on days 4 and 5 after such a short turn around from the first test? Could they collapse with the bat in the 2nd innings?