Preview: India vs Australia – 4th Test
First Published : 21 Mar 2013, 15:24
Last Modified : 21 Mar 2013, 15:25
What
The fourth and the last Test of the 2013 Border-Gavaskar Trophy, between India and Australia.
When
March 22 to 26, 2013
Where
The Feroz Shah Kotla Stadium, New Delhi
The teams
India
All the selection changes that India have made ahead of and during this series have worked like magic. Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Murali Vijay and Shikhar Dhawan, have all vindicated the five wise men by grabbing up their chances and helping India seal the series handsomely. However, sadly, Dhawan won’t be able to build on to his incredible 187 on Test debut due to a hand injury. That means Ajinkya Rahane could finally get his first Test cap, as an opener.
After the Mohali Test MS Dhoni hinted Pragyan Ojha might get his second game of the series. If Australia stick with the right-handed Brad Haddin and don’t go back to Matthew Wade, India’s bowling attack should remain unchanged from the third Test.
Australia
Just when you thought this tour cannot get any worse for the visitors, it did. With 0-3 down and into the fourth Test Australia have lost Mitchell Starc to an ankle injury. If that’s not bad enough, their captain, Michael Clarke has been rendered doubtful for the Delhi Test due to his recurring back problem. In case Clarke can’t make it, Shane Watson will lead the team after having missed the third Test due to the disciplinary ban and the birth of his child. Mitchell Johnson might get his first Test of the tour in the absence of his fellow left-arm seamer, Starc.
Key Players
India
Like they have right through this series, the Indian spinners will play an important role on yet another spin-friendly track at the Kotla. Ravindra Jadeja has been the surprise package with the ball and his non-fancy yet accurate left-arm slow bowling will come in handy as the Delhi wicket deteriorates. That said, the team would be expecting a little more intent to contribute with the bat from him.
On the batting front, Virat Kohli would be determined to rekindle his hunger for big runs at his home ground after scores of 67 not-out and 34 in Mohali.
Australia
Watson came to India with a lot of expectations but has had a rather rough tour. A streak of low scores in the first two Tests was followed by him flying back home during the third match. As one of the senior players of this young squad, he should be determined to end this rather abysmal tour on a positive note for himself and his team. If he’s asked to lead the team in Delhi, his responsibilities will double up – to replace Clarke as the team’s best batsman and the leader.
Trivia
India have never won four Tests in a series. The maximum they have won is three- on three occasions.
Indian batsmen have made five scores of 150 or more in the series so far. The record of maximum such scores in a series is seven, by Pakistan vs India in 1982-83.
Another defeat in this Delhi will give Australia their seventh consecutive defeat on Indian soil – their worst losing streak in any country.
Stats
1. Average first innings score at Feroz Shah Kotla, Delhi:
Overall – 350
Since 2000- 323
2. Average second innings score at Feroz Shah Kotla, Delhi
Overall – 330
Since 2000- 309
3. Result summary at Feroz Shah Kotla, Delhi
|
Matches |
Won by side batting 1st |
Won by side batting 2nd |
Drawn |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Overall |
5 |
12 |
14 |
|
Since 2000 |
3 |
6 |
1 |
4. Head-to-head:
|
Matches |
Played |
Ind won |
Aus won |
Tied |
Drawn |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Overall |
85 |
23 |
38 |
1 |
23 |
|
In India |
45 |
18 |
12 |
1 |
14 |
|
At Delhi |
2 |
2 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
5. Last meeting between both sides at Feroz Shah Kotla, Delhi
Brief scores: October 29- Nov 2, 2008
India (613-7d & 208-5d), Australia (577 & 31-0).
Match drawn
6. Form guide (most recent listed first):
India: Won, Won, Won, Drawn, Lost (3 wins, 1 loss)
Australia: Lost, Lost, Lost, Won, Won (2 wins, 3 losses)
The Squads
India: M.S. Dhoni (Capt/wk), Murali Vijay, Cheteshwar Pujara, Sachin Tendulkar, Virat Kohli, Ravindra Jadeja, Harbhajan Singh, R. Ashwin, Pragyan Ojha, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Ajinkya Rahane, Ashok Dinda, Suresh Raina, Ishant Sharma.
Australia: Michael Clarke (Capt), Shane Watson, David Warner, Ed Cowan, Phil Hughes, Brad Haddin (wk), Matthew Wade (wk), Moises Henriques, Steven Smith, Glenn Maxwell, Peter Siddle, Mitchell Johnson, James Pattinson, Nathan Lyon, Xavier Doherty, Usman Khawaja.
