Australian players started their training sessions at the Optus Stadium on Wednesday ahead of their opening Test in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy (BGT) 2024-25 commencing on November 22. Both teams will be keen to keep their hopes alive in the ICC World Test Championship final. And thus will have to turn out with extraordinary performances.
However, question marks have been raised over the form of a couple of Australian batters in recent times. Especially with an incisive Indian pace attack led by Jasprit Bumrah. The batting group Steve Smith, Usman Khawaja, Travis Head, and Marnus Labuschagne put in some serious work in the nets. Seamers Pat Cummins, Scott Boland, and Mitchell Marsh deliberated over strategy with bowling coach Daniel Vettori.
While the form has deserted Smith and Labuschagne in recent months, despite his legendary status. Smith’s numbers since Australia’s ICC WTC win against India last year don’t look very spectacular. He has scored just 738 runs in 12 matches at an average of 35.14, with one century and four fifties, his best being 110. Labuschagne’s numbers are slightly worse, as he has scored 653 runs at an average of 29.68. With a century and five fifties, his best being 111.
Travis Head has been known as an explosive batter. But he too had to taste a hard time in the Test format. The left-handed batter averages 28.68 in 12 Tests with just one century and three fifties. Wicketkeeper-batter Alex Carey, who was in good form recently, has struggled. Since the WTC title win with 536 runs in 20 innings at an average of 28.21.
Australia will also miss the experience of David Warner, who hung his boots in international cricket this year. South Australian batter Nathan McSweeney has come in as Warner’s replacement in the squad. McSweeney managed to score 2,252 runs in 67 innings in domestic cricket, averaging 38.12 with six centuries.
It also won’t be having all-rounder Cam Green, who, during his last seven Tests, has averaged 36.81. Scoring 405 runs with a highest score of 174* against New Zealand.
Only two batsmen have regularly averaged over 40 since the Australian WTC win-opener Usman Khawaja- 943 runs, average of 41.00 and Mitchell Marsh-750 runs, 46.87 average.
While the team gets ready for the upcoming Test series, the big question is: will Australia rise to the occasion and prove invincible on the big stage? Only time will tell.
ANI
