Although Australia may not play two frontline spinners throughout the four-Test series, Ashton Agar is guaranteed a position on the next tour to India.
Agar had a challenging comeback to Test cricket in Sydney following a five-year absence, tossing 22 wicketless overs as Australia’s attempt to force a victory over South Africa fell short.
At the Sydney Cricket Ground, Australia’s skipper Pat Cummins joins his teammates in celebrating the 2-0 series triumph over South Africa.
Due in part to the fact that the surface did not break up as anticipated following prolonged rain delays, captain Pat Cummins stated after the game on Sunday that the game was not an India tryout.
Agar is anticipated to be one of four spinners in Australia’s team for the tour, along with Nathan Lyon, Todd Murphy, Mitchell Swepson, and Adam Zampa.
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Ash will definitely be there, Cummins assured. “This wicket was quite unique compared to India. It wasn’t spinning away from the wicket’s centre.
Even from the centre of the wicket, Indian wickets can occasionally truly break up. Additionally, left-arm orthodox pitching excels against right-handed batters.
“For the game, there were three wickets for spin and 800 runs overall” (in Sydney). He didn’t have it easy, but I felt his bowling was excellent.
Agar’s selection in Sydney meant that he had overtaken Swepson, who made his debut in Pakistan last year, to become the nation’s second spinner. Throughout their 2017 series loss in India, Australia used two spinners, with Steve O’Keefe and Nathan Lyon each collecting 19 wickets.
However, the rise of Travis Head, Steve Smith, and Marnus Labuschagne may alter that perspective. At the SCG, Cummins acknowledged that he under-bowled Head, Australia’s most dangerous offspinner at times.
Australia’s last series victory in India came in 2004, when they relied heavily on reverse swing while fielding three pacemen.
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“In India, we might need to slice up each game differently. Perhaps three quicks in one game, one quick in another,” Cummins said.
With both Mitchell Starc and Cameron Green hoping to recover from fractured fingers by the second Test in Delhi, the pace-bowling backup they provide will be essential to that matchup.
Following a 1-0 series victory in Pakistan last year and a 1-1 tie in Sri Lanka, Australia is certain they have the greatest preparation possible for the four-Test series, which begins on February 9 in Nagpur.
Cummins declared, “We’re as good a chance as we’re ever going to be.” “No one is travelling there blind. Our previous experiences in Pakistan and Sri Lanka last year have tremendously helped.
“This summer has been wonderful once again. This bowling attack, which managed to survive the storm at the Gabba, the MCG, and now the SCG, is different once more.
“Our batting group has done an amazing job of holding their own. Aside from this game, which was played in a short amount of time, we have each been able to get 20 wickets.
Despite the fact that poor lighting contributed to the draw against South Africa, Cummins has advised Cricket Australia against rethinking the Sydney Test as a pink-ball match.
Wet conditions and poor lighting at the SCG caused a day and a half’s worth of play to be wasted, and despite Australia appearing to be in control for the whole of the match, they ran out of time on Sunday to bowl the Proteas out twice.
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Tony Shepherd, the chair of the SCG Trust, suggested changing the annual SCG fixture’s format to a day-night pink-ball Test as a potential solution to prevent more delays as a result of the delays. In the event that playing with the red ball was impossible due to poor lighting, Shepherd also raised the notion of simply changing red balls for pink ones during a daytime Test.
Although Cummins acknowledged that the thought of missing cricket was never desirable, he said that transitioning to a pink-ball competition was not an option.
“Pink ball is a major adjustment. He told reporters, “It’s not like for like. “I believe that the SCG’s rough wicket makes it difficult to play a pink ball here.
The red ball moves very differently than this one. Personally, I still like a red ball to be used. We dislike missing out on overs. Start earlier, perhaps, if there is a possibility of missing the overs.
Dean Elgar, the visiting Proteas captain, also advised caution.
If you start with a red one then switch to a pink one, he remarked, “I think it’s kind of taking the piss out of you. The red ball is well-known in test cricket. You want to play with the red ball because that is why you grow up playing Test cricket. I continue to believe that the format’s authenticity and originality must be protected.
Elgar claimed that continuing in the dark was not the solution.
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At the SCG, there were instances when we couldn’t see the ball, to be honest. That’s not being overly dramatic, he said. “Player safety is crucial to me. Imagine that a man is struck on the head in a gully while it is raining and dark. Needs for common sense
