The 2018-19 Border-Gavaskar series is 2-1 at end of 3rd Test, favoring India.
There is some coincidence going into 4th Test match at Sydney Cricket Ground. Australia haven’t lost a test match at SCG since 2011. It was the Ashes and England went into the final SCG test leading the series 2-1…. eventually winning that test match(Innings and 83 runs) and series 3-1!.
Will history repeat itself for Australia ?
and
..will India be the first Asian team to ever win a series in Australia ?!!
However unlike Ricky Ponting’s Australian team that lost the 2011 Ashes, this Australian test side led by Tim Paine is experiencing Test match cricket!.
Not to undermine India’s performance with bat and ball, however the current Australian squad has the most in-experience batting line-up they had in last 25 years!.
Below is recent performance of India’s visit to South Africa and England. There is some interesting comparison of all four teams.
In the South Africa – India 3-Test series only four batsmen(both sides) surpassing 200 runs in entire series. The England- India 5-Test series had three(both teams) surpassing 300 runs in entire series. Both South Africa and England had more experienced cricketers taking part in that series, and India too had their best experienced cricketers!.
In the ongoing Australia-India series -only three batsmen(both sides) surpassed 200 runs in 3 test matches.
Here is a brief analysis on those series. All data updated at end of 3rd MCG test Australia-India series.
Test experience (England, India , South Africa and Australia)
Below tables are basic analysis on Test match experience. There are four columns for this analysis. The first is Test Career figures( before the series), followed by series performance(Tests, Runs, wkts & keeper's catches).India have higher number of experienced cricketers, but their performance in South Africa and England were ordinary compare to how they have performed in Australia. Australia on the other hand have the most in-experienced batting line-up in 25 years!.
In series performance there is an interesting comparison for batsmen have scored more than 200 runs and for bowlers picking 15 plus wickets.
THE PLAYER'S LIST BELOW IS ARRANGED IN ORDER OF MAXIMUM TEST MATCHES PLAYED.
| Australia’s most experienced player is Nathan Lyon(83 tests) followed by two bowlers Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood. In batting group Usman Khawaja Sean Marsh are the most experienced cricketer, and they are supported by in-experienced batsmen in Finch, Head, Handscomb and M Harris(series debutant). Their captain Tim Paine has played only 18 test matches. | On the other hand India have 6 cricketers with 50 plus Test experience and only 4 players with less than 10 test matches(including series debutant Mayant Agarwaal). Ishant Sharma is the most experienced player in the current squad (90 tests) followed by Virat Kohli and Chetashwar Pujara |
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| England currently have the most balanced test team. Their density of experience starts from middle order till the end(No. 11) | Currently India along with England and New Zealand have the most 50 plus test players in their squad |
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| South Africa currently are looking to balance their test batting line-up to support their hostile but experienced bowling attack. | India had less bowling option for this series in South Africa. |
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