After many years I have go enough interest to blogging about Cricket and engaging the cricketing community again.
The MCG test in 2024 is a pivotal moment in Indian Test Cricket. We have already seen an abrupt retirement for Ashwin and we may see one or both of Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma also retire. Going into next year, we may see Ravi Jadeja or Jasprit Bhumrah as Captain(right after Sydney Test).
However the MCG Test is foremost in our minds at the moment. India has significant batting and bowling worries. The problem has grown due to the rise of IPL and white ball riches that have doubtless tempted players notably attractive stroke makers. The likes of Pujara have been overshadowed and the leadership has not invested enough in the current crop of youngsters in this format.
India has a surfeit of talent even for red ball cricket but we dont value it sufficiently to allow for the younger players to sufficiently prepare themselves. Over the years, Rohit and Kohli have become very good White Ball Cricketers, and this has been coupled with bad red ball form and a difficulty to readapt to the Red Ball game.
Going into MCG, India will have questions around just a couple of spots, but the choices are not clear due to the inability to read the MCG pitch. Perhaps Pujara is to be most trusted on this front. The curator has created a 6 mm pitch, meant to facilitate a more ball friendly game notably for seamers. However it is very likely to play like the Perth Pitch. And be even more sporting for the right time of batsman. The first session the ball with swing due to the hot and moist conditions in Melbourne notably morning due. This will give way to more baking of the surface. The new Kookubarra ball swings and seams till about 35th over but then becomes very batting friendly there on. Most teams that have enough of a batting lineup by this point can add another 200 runs or more in the 45 overs before the second new ball is due. This means that a first innings of 100+ overs is on the cards. MCG being a big ground favors a lot of twos and three and a lot of running between the wickets. Scores of 350+ in those 100 overs are likely in the first innings.
A good batting lineup with a centurion and a good tail will reach 400. Both teams thus are very capable of achieving this. If a team bats 4 to 5 sessions and achieves 400+, then such a team will be able to gain an important advantage in this crucial test.
However the second innings in drop-ins in hot humid conditions is always more challenging. The ball now also spins as the grass wears out and cracks open. Humidity plays tricks sometimes -- it allows due to play a role. The pitch is likely to play like the Chennai pitch in many ways. Day Two it always also quickens in Melbourne and then slows down. Despite the prep for a more seam friendly wicket, this will be swing and spin game also. And like earlier Melbourne tracks it will allow for 30% of the overs to be bowled by spinners. In hot conditions, teams also have to worry about Over Rates. This also means spinners. As Australia and India will not want to be dinked points for slow over rate as both want to be in the WTC.
The likely change is for Washington Sundar for Nitish Reddy. But not much more. If the Captain is injured he might make way for a second change with Nitish Reddy in or an additional fast bowler. Or batsman based on the condition.
If Rohit plays, he should however consider batting at the top with a view to sending Yashasvi down the order. Too many times, the early loss of Yashasvi, this series has lead to a difficult situation as the batting that followed was gone soon with Rahul alone holding a vigil. It is better that Rohit stay and play out 15 overs in Rahuls company waiting for the loose balls. If India ends up at 50 or 60 for 2 at lunch it would be a job well done. For the older ball on a drying pitch is far less potent and the likes of Kohli, Gill and Pant are likely to cash in. Not to mention Yashasvi as well. Promoting Washy up the order can also be a positive. At No. 3 Washy will be able to play a carefully planned innings leaving a lot of deliveries and securing his wicket, having a sound technique. This will open the batting order further. Making 450 batting first is the most important goal that will win India the series.
If India bowls first, the early 2 hours will be crucial. It will be necessary to aim for 4 wickets in the first session before lunch as that will reduce Australia to a smaller total preferably under 250. The pitch will quicken the second day, so India will have to plan for this and play a waiting game batting second. Either way a first innings lead is crucial to gain. Batting Second, India should again strive to take the innings late into the 3rd day. By this time, MCG's drop in pitch, baked by the sun, will become much harder and we can see signs of wear and tear. Batting 3rd and 4th later will be harder in this wicket and will need special skills. Unwatered, this pitch can dry out unless there is due, but again this may not help much beyond the first session.
So Indias revamped batting order -- Rohit, Rahul, Washy, Jaiswal, Kohli, Gill, Pant, Jadeja, Akash, Bhumrah and Siraj.
