Three Australian players to watch out for Border Gavaskar Trophy 2020-21
Host Australia will be determined to start their home season on winning note when they take on India in Border Gavaskar Trophy, starting from 17th December at Adelaide Oval. With David Warner ruled out of the opening Test, Marcus Harris has been named as a cover into the Test squad.
Will Pucovski, Sean Abbott, Michael Neser and Mitchell Swepson are new players included in the Test squad for Australia. Wicket-keeper Tim Paine will lead Australia for the upcoming four-match Test series.
Uncapped all-rounder Cameron Green have earned his maiden call-up to the Test side for the Border Gavaskar Trophy. James Pattinson, Mitchell Starc, Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood are four premier options for Australia in the pace bowling department. Off-spinner Nathan Lyon is expected to play all the four matches as a premier slow bowler in the playing XI for Australia.
On the other hand, Virat Kohl-led unit managed to win their maiden series in Australia in 2018 by a margin of 2-1. It will not easy this time around with David Warner, Steven Smith and Marnus Labuschagne showing excellent form in red-ball cricket in the past 18 months.
Uncapped players like Shubnam Gill, Navdeep Saini and Mohammed Siraj have been picked for the first time for the historical tour of Australia. Recently, swashbuckling opener Rohit Sharma has joined the Test squad after fully recovering from hamstring injury.
Therefore, we look at the three players to watch out for Australia who can produce the goods and play an important role in helping the side clinch Border Gavaskar Trophy.
David Warner
Left-hander will be looking to deliver big runs in the next three matches of the Test series against India after being ruled out of the opening Test.
There is no doubt that Warner is one of the mainstays in the batting department for Australia in red-ball cricket. Swashbuckling opener has the ability to change the game in matter of few sessions and holds a phenomenal record in Australia in Test cricket.
Warner will be keen to continue his rich vein off form with the bat against India in the Border Gavaskar Trophy. Since November 2018, David Warner has accumulated 881 runs in 10 Test matches at an average of 55.06 with three centuries to his name. He also managed to register his first triple century against Pakistan at Adelaide Oval last year.
Steven Smith
With 911 points to his name, Steven Smith is currently number-one ranked batsmen in Test cricket. After being back into the Test side, Smith has shown stupendous form with the bat in red-ball cricket.
In the ODI series played against India, Smith showed sublime form with the bat and smashed two centuries for Australia. He has the ability to take on the spinners and not allow them to settle into a rhythm.
The 31-yeard old will be looking to continue his imperious batting form in the four-match Test series. He has played 73 Test matches in his career, where he has accumulated 7227 runs at an average of 62.84 with 26 centuries and 29 half-centuries to his name.
Pat Cummins
With 904 points to his name, Pat Cummins is currently number-one ranked bowler in Test cricket. The right-arm quick has shown tremendous consistency for Australia in the five-day format. He was instrumental in helping Australia retain the Ashes series against England in England last year.
After being rested for the T20I series, Cummins will be looking to put in his best performance in the Border Gavaskar Trophy. The 27-year old has represented Australia in 30 Test matches, in which has claimed 143 wickets at an impressive average of 21.82 with five five-wicket hauls to his name.
His career best bowling figures have come against Sri Lanka in 2019 in a Test match at the Gabba in Brisbane. Cummins stole the show and claimed 6 for 23 in 15 overs.
