The 2023-2025 World Test Championship (WTC) cycle is underway, and India face a challenging five-Test series against Australia in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. This highly anticipated series begins on November 22nd in Perth.
Australia enter the series with an experienced squad, including players like Steven Smith, Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood, Nathan Lyon, Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Mitchell Marsh, Travis Head, Scott Boland, and Alex Carey.
These players have a history of playing against India, with many participating in the 2018-19 and 2020-21 series. Australia have added two new faces to the mix: Nathan McSweeney and Josh Inglis.
McSweeney boasts a remarkable recent form, accumulating 291 runs in his past four innings, highlighted by centuries in the Sheffield Shield and the One-Day Cup.
McSweeney’s strong performances have made him a player to watch. Batting at number four, the 25-year-old displayed composure in the first innings and took charge in the second innings of the first unofficial Test against India A.
In four innings against India A, McSweeney amassed 166 runs, with a top score of 88 not out, averaging an impressive 55.33. Adding to his batting prowess, he also secured two wickets.
There’s speculation that McSweeney might open the batting for Australia alongside Usman Khawaja.
Meanwhile, Australian wicketkeeper-batsman Josh Inglis is poised to make his Test debut in this series. Included in the squad, he’ll be eager to make his mark when given the opportunity.
Inglis has already impressed with a century against India, albeit in the shortest format of the game. However, Alex Carey, who assumed the Test wicketkeeper role after Tim Paine’s retirement, remains the preferred choice behind the stumps.
India have enjoyed recent success against Australia in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy in Australia, having won the last two series on Australian soil. They’ll be aiming for a hat-trick of victories.
India achieved a historic feat by becoming the first Asian team to win a Test series in Australia under Virat Kohli’s leadership in the 2018-19 series. Under Ajinkya Rahane’s captaincy, a young Indian team secured a second consecutive series victory in 2020-21.
The second Test is scheduled for December 6th in Adelaide (day-night Test), a venue renowned for its lively pitch that often favours both fast bowlers and batsmen. The third Test takes place on December 14th in Brisbane, followed by the highly anticipated Boxing Day Test on December 26th in Melbourne, a fixture cherished by cricket fans worldwide.
The final encounter is set for January 3rd, 2025, in Sydney, a ground steeped in cricketing history and witness to numerous memorable performances over the years. The Indian team will be determined to reclaim the trophy, adding another chapter to this storied rivalry.