Border-Gavaskar Trophy: India is running on the ground in the Border Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25, looking to shake off the haunting memories of that infamous 36 all-out in Adelaide. With the first Test win in the bag, they are now eyeing another win in this high-stakes five-match series. But the road ahead won’t be smooth. Australia, stung by their loss, will come charging back with renewed aggression.
The Aussies are known for their domination in day-night Tests. They are more effective with the pink ball swinging more than the traditional red. Their fast bowlers are also more likely to exploit the conditions to rattle India’s batting order. Besides that, Australia’s batters have more experience in such tricky conditions, which adds to their advantage.
As the teams prepare for the second Test at Adelaide Oval, Australia will be looking to level the score. India has a major challenge in front of it with a squad full of match-winners. Here are three key Australian players who could pose the biggest threats to India’s hopes of maintaining their momentum.
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Here, take a look at the top-3 Aussies who might pose a threat to Indians in the 2nd Test:
Mitchell Starc
The premier Australian spearhead, Mitchell Starc is one of the most lethal bowlers in all forms of the game. When it comes to pink-ball, he becomes the destructible force with the ball.
The pink ball skids off the pitch quite quickly, which is something Mitchell Starc can look to exploit if anything, given the way he has bowled in the past. And he has been in very good nick of late, returning six wickets in an innings for South Australia during Sheffield Shield cricket.
Mitchell Starc’s impressive record in pink-ball Tests:
| Stats | Numbers |
|---|---|
| Total Pink-Ball Tests Played | 12 |
| Total Wickets Taken | 66 |
| Average | 18.71 |
| Five-Wicket Hauls | 3 |
| Key Strength | Ability to target stumps under lights |
Pat Cummins
Another Aussie quick and the current skipper, Pat Cummins is one of the terrorizing bowlers when it comes to swing and bounce. Cummins has shown is wrath during India’s last visit in 2020-21, when India was decimated for 36 in the 1st Test.
Pat Cummins remarkable record in day-night Tests:
| Stats | Numbers |
|---|---|
| Average in Day-Night Tests | 18.35 |
| Total Wickets Taken | 34 |
| Total Day-Night Tests Played | 7 |
| Best Performance | 10 wickets in a single day-night Test |
| Five-Wicket Hauls | 1 |
Nathan Lyon
Australia’s Premier spinner, Nathan Lyon is one of the major threat for the Indians. His ripping off-spin often makes batters puzzle. He would be a key factor for Aussies in the upcoming match.
Nathan Lyon’s performance in day-night Tests compared to red-ball Tests at home:
| Statistic | Day-Night Tests | Red-Ball Tests |
|---|---|---|
| Average | 25.58 | 31.80 |
| Balls per Wicket | 7 fewer than in red-ball tests | – |
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