Last Updated:
Australia have Usman Khawaja, Travis Head and Alex Carey in their batting order and Ashwin is known to have a good record against left-handers.
Ravichandran Ashwin. (Picture Credit: AP)
Just a couple of hours from now, India will take on Australia in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy opener in Perth. The first Test gets underway on Friday but the visitors face the selection conundrum, especially when the likes of Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill are unavailable. The same goes with the bowling attack as India are likely to deploy a combination of 3 specialist pacers, a fast-bowling all-rounder and a spinner.
According to The Indian Express, seasoned off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin would be the lone spinner in India’s playing XI for the Perth Test. The report stated that the team management is planning to zero in on Ashwin given the number of left-hand batters – three – Australia will take the field with. The hosts have Usman Khawaja, Travis Head and Alex Carey in their main batting unit and Ashwin is known to have a good record against left-handers.
Ashwin has played only 10 Test matches Down Under, picking up 39 wickets at an average of 42.15. It has been challenging for India to play both Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja on foreign tours. In most of the cases, Ashwin has to be benched with Jadeja getting picked primarily due to the depth he provides in the batting order.
India currently travelling with three spinners – Ashwin, Jadeja and Washington Sundar – for the 5-match series.
India will be welcomed with a spicy track at the Optus Stadium and it’s a no-brainer that India deploy a pace-heavy attack. Jasprit Bumrah, who will captain India in the absence of Rohit Sharma, will also the pace attack and will be assisted by Mohammed Siraj. However, it will be interesting to see how the Indian team management deals with Mohammad Shami’s absence.
The report further suggested that Reddy is in line to receive his debut cap to play the fast-bowling all-rounder’s role in the series opener.
