Former Indian coach Ravi Shastri believes India has the upper hand in the Boxing Day Test against Australia, citing Australia's struggling batting lineup.
Former India n coach Ravi Shastri believes Australia ’s “brittle” batting line-up has India in the box seat to win the Boxing Day Test and clinch a third consecutive series victory Down Under. Australia haven’t won the Border-Gavaskar Trophy since 2014-15 and India only need to win one of the two remaining Tests in Melbourne and Sydney to retain the trophy.
Shastri believes India have the “nose ahead” given the series is tied 1-1 after the first three Tests were played at venues where the pitch favoured Australia.“I think India would take this, the way the series is poised. Any overseas team being 1-1, especially with the games being in Perth, Adelaide and Brisbane, they would take this. Going 1-1 into Boxing Day is the best case scenario. I would say India have their nose ahead.” Australia’s top three of Usman Khawaja, Nathan McSweeney and Marnus Labuschagne have soaked up deliveries at the start of innings, but top order runs have been hard to come by against Jasprit Bumrah’s bowling. Sam Konstas is one of Australia’s youngest ever Test debutants. (Photo by Josh Chadwick/Getty Images)“I think it’s been pretty brittle,” said Shastri, who is part of Fox Cricket’s commentary team. “When you look at this Australian line-up, it’s been a long time since I’ve seen an Australian line-up where the top order is that brittle. India have exploited that and continue to exploit it.” Mitch Marsh is another member of Australia’s top six that has struggled for runs, apart from 47 in the second innings in the series opener in Perth. Labuschagne, Marsh, Khawaja and Steve Smith all average less than 30 in Test cricket over the past 12 months. Marsh is set to play despite all-rounder Beau Webster being brought into the squad and concerns he isn’t able to bowl the required overs to take the load off Australia’s bowlers, especially with a 40 degree forecast for Melbourne on Boxing Day.in a baptism of fire with plenty on the lin
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