An innings and 132-run demolition in Nagpur has handed India an all-important 1-0 series lead and left Australia scrambling for answers heading into the second Test of the four-match Border-Gavaskar series at Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi tomorrow afternoon.
Both sides looked set to make changes to their sides from the Nagpur Test with Australia’s changes perhaps proving of the unforced variety.
The visitors were left abruptly nonplussed after being bowled out for just 91 – their lowest ever total on Indian soil – in their second innings with Marnus Labuschagne and Steve Smith their only batters to score more than 10 runs as Ravichandran Ashwin bowled India to a comprehensive victory, not for the first time in his illustrious career.
Ravindra Jadeja was awarded Player of the Match for his dominance with bat and ball, taking a total of seven wickets and making a match-defining 70 in the first innings.
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Debutant offspinner Todd Murphy proved Australia’s lone bright spot of the encounter notching figures of 7-for-124, becoming the sixth Australian ever to take seven wickets in their debut Test innings.
The omission of Travis Head – currently ranked the fourth-best Test batter in the world – raised a number of eyebrows with criticism only growing louder after number-five Matt Renshaw managed a golden duck and two.
David Warner and Usman Khawaja’s no-shows atop the order also has pundits second-guessing the opening partnership’s viability for this series and beyond.
As far as possible changes, the idea of Head opening the batting in place of Warner – who has averaged just 26.76 over his past 22 innings – or being plugged back into the middle order perhaps in place of Renshaw has been floated.
Veteran quick Mitchell Starc remains a chance of making his return in Delhi after suffering a finger injury in the Boxing Day Test.
Whilst still restricted, Starc’s availability is expected to be determined closer to the start of play following conversations with the coaches and medical staff.
Scott Boland would be the man to make way should Starc be deemed fit.
Cameron Green – who also suffered a finger injury in the Boxing Day Test – looks increasingly likely to make his return as well after several productive nets sessions this week.
Either Renshaw or Peter Handscomb would be omitted should Green return.
Uncapped spinner Matthew Kuhnemann has flown over to India to replace Mitchell Swepson – who travelled back to Australia temporarily for the birth of his first child – and may be a chance to debut, particularly if Green suits up and allows the selectors to be flexible and select a third spinner.
Ashton Agar – who played in Sydney earlier in the year – could also been an option should the selectors opt to run with a trio of spinners.
Josh Hazlewood is still being hampered by an achilles issues and will not be considered for the Delhi Test.
As for the hosts, the only potential change to their XI comes in the form of middle-order batter Shreyas Iyer who missed the Nagpur Test with a back issue.
Should India opt to reinclude Iyer, Nagpur debutant Suryakumar Yadav would be the likely player to make way.
India are again favourites heading into the second Test and can retain the Border-Gavaskar Trophy with a win.
Australia, meanwhile, are still desperate to overcome the subcontinental demons that have haunted them over an extended period and prove that they can compete in trying Indian conditions.
