Border-Gavaskar Trophy: A mouth-watering series in the offing - Sportstar
The HinduThe Indians need to play out of their skins to retain the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. In contrast to 2018-19, when Australia struggled without Smith and Warner — banned after the Sandpapergate scandal — it is India that will be without its inspirational batsman Virat Kohli for the last three Tests of the four-match series. The Aussie wickets, save Sydney, should have pace and bounce, but not much in terms of lateral movement apart from the day/night game in Adelaide, and in the first 10 overs with the Kookaburra ball. India has a terrific pace pack — despite the pounding in the one-day series — and Jasprit Bumrah, with his unique quick-arm long-lever action, speed, movement and bounce, is the trump card. While the Indian openers have to stand firm in the first 10 overs of Kookaburra ball when the sphere really moves, Bumrah and Shami have to separate the Aussie opening pair of David Warner and Joe Burns in the initial overs and then make inroads to give India its best chance.