India’s nemesis Steve Smith feels that Australian team’s batting depth would be hugely tested in absence of injured opener David Warner in the first Test in Adelaide, starting December 17.
The hosts will likely have a new look opening combination in Joe Burns and Marcus Harris following injuries to Warner (groin) and in-form young gun Will Pucovski (concussion).
“Our depth is obviously going to be tested with Davey (Warner) out and few potentially new players coming in. It will test us out no doubt against a good Indian outfit,” Smith said in a virtual news conference.
“They beat us out here last time and they’re a very good side. It’s gonna be a great series and whoever’s up there and whoever’s in the team hopefully we will do our job and can have a successful summer.”
Smith rated the Indian bowling attack highly even though he felt that it’s not the “strongest” without senior pro Ishan Sharma, who has been ruled out of the four-match series because of a side strain he sustained during the IPL.
“They are a good (bowling) line-up. They’re pretty experienced now... Mohd Shami has played a lot of cricket, Bumrah has played a reasonable amount of cricket and a quality bowler.
“In the spin department, whichever spinner they use be it Ashwin, Jadeja or Kuldeep, they’ve all played a fair bit of cricket now.
“The quicks perhaps haven’t played quite as much, whoever they go with them but they’re all good bowlers. We’re gonna have to be at our best as a batting group this summer, if we’re gonna beat them.”
On Ishant’s absence, he said: “Ishant Sharma is probably a big loss for them at the start, if he’s not available... He’s obviously played a lot of cricket. Maybe without him, it may not be the strongest. I’m sure they would like him to play.”
The series will see Smith’s face-off with Indian pace spearhead Bumrah for the first time in longer formats and he said the key against his awkward action is to be watchful all the time.
“I’m not doing anything specific. I think his skill set won’t probably change too much. We know how he bowls, he’s got a good pace.
“He’s got that awkward action, very different to a lot of people. So you’ve got to be pretty watchful all the time.
Indian skipper Virat Kohli will take paternity leave after the Pink Ball Test to be with his actor wife who is expecting their first child in January.
Asked whether it will be a big advantage for the Aussies, Smith said it’s a big loss for India but he credited Kohli for the decision. “No doubt it’s a big loss for India, Virat is a world class player. But look, you have got to give some credit to him.”
“I know how much he would love to have played here but he’s also a human being, and he’s got a life outside of cricket and a family that’s starting. So credit to him for wanting to be there for the birth of his first child. “We know how much he loves playing here in Australia, how good he is. But like I said, a lot of credits go to him for wanting to go back there.”
30k for boxing day test
The iconic Boxing Day Test between India and Australia is set to be played in front of 30,000 fans per day after the Victorian government eased crowd restrictions on Thursday.
The Boxing Day Test scheduled to be played from December 26 at the Melbourne Cricket Ground was earlier restricted to 25 per cent of the total capacity crowd a day.