Indian Solutions For Australian Problems: Here Are Rohit Sharma & Co's Best Bets To Win WTC Final!
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Indian team ahead of WTC Final (Twitter)
It has been 10 years since India won their last ICC trophy. Ten years. A decade. That is a long, long time. Being a superpower in world cricket, a fan doesn't expect that little from the Indian Cricket Team. Alas, that has been the case for our poor Men in Blue. However, let bygones be bygones, and India find themselves in yet another ICC final as they are set to fight out Australia in the World Test Championship (WTC) Final 2023 at the Oval.
Heading into the much-anticipated contest, the Rohit Sharma-led - apart from conditions, weather and the exile of not winning an ICC trophy - will face seven more problems, named David Andrew Warner, Usman Tariq Khawaja, Marnus Andre Labuschagne, Steven Peter Devereux Smith, Cameron Donald Green, Travis Michael Head and Alex Tyson Carey.
But India does have the weapons in their repertoire to outsmart these seven issues. This article will explore the Australian batters' stats and which Indian bowlers can trouble them.
David Warner
The experienced Southpaw opener has never had a good time in whites facing the red ball in the United Kingdom. No one can forget the last time Australia toured England, and Stuart Broad made him his bunny. But, overall, he has mediocre stats in England, averaging a mere 26.04 off 25 innings and scoring six Test half-centuries in the country.
Notably, Warner has experienced troubles against seam-prominent bowlers who have the ability to move the ball both sides off the deck. Statically, right-arm medium bowlers have the most successful kind of bowlers against the Aussie opener, meaning Mohammed Shami and Mohammed Siraj will hold the key against Warner.
Meanwhile, Ravichandran Ashwin has the most successful Indian bowler in front of the 36-year-old, getting his prized wicket on 11 occasions.
Warner vs Indian bowlers
Warner against Ashwin: Dismissals - 11, Dots - 328, Average - 17.6
Warner against Umesh: Dismissals - 6, Dots - 85, Average - 30.0
Warner against Jadeja: Dismissals - 4, Dots - 55, Average - 14.8
Warner against Siraj: Dismissals - 2, Dots - 55, Average - 18.0
Warner against Shami: Dismissals - 2, Dots - 62, Average - 40.5
Usman Khawaja
Khawaja, who was Australia's best batter in this WTC cycle, is one of the most complete batters going around in the world at the moment. The left-handed batter has a minimal weakness; however, he tends to show some deficiency against short-pitched bowling, which can be exploited best by Mohammed Siraj, who can extract extra bounce off good length area. The off-spinner of Ravi Ashwin will obviously have an edge against the Southpaw.
Khawaja vs Indian bowlers
Khawaja against Ashwin: Dismissals - 4, Dots - 221, Average - 24.8
Khawaja against Jadeja: Dismissals - 4, Dots - 146, Average - 34.8
Khawaja against Shami: Dismissals - 2, Dots - 231, Average - 53.0
Khawaja against Umesh: Dismissals - 1, Dots - 79, Average - 53.0
Khawaja against Siraj: Dismissals - 1, Dots - 31, Average - 13.0
Marnus Labuschagne
Australia's Number three was one of the few batters who was grinding it hard during the county season to prep himself for the WTC Final and the Ashes. He had a terrific time with the bat for Glamorgan, stagging around 500 runs off eight innings and slamming two daddy hundreds. However, he showed frailty against pacers who had tricks up their sleeves.
In his brief career against the Indians, the right-hander has amassed 708 runs at a substantial average of 47.20, snapping three fifties and a hundred in 17 innings. But Ravindra Jadeja has his number the most among the current Indian bowling crew.
Labuschagne vs Indian bowlers
Labuschagne against Jadeja: Dismissals - 5, Dots - 234, Average - 19.4
Labuschagne against Ashwin: Dismissals - 3, Dots - 240, Average - 63.3
Labuschagne against Siraj: Dismissals - 2, Dots - 152, Average - 50.0
Labuschagne against Shami: Dismissals - 2, Dots - 107, Average - 28.5
Labuschagne against Umesh: Dismissals - 1, Dots - 78, Average - 44.0
Steve Smith
The former Australian captain will be one name whom the Rohit Sharma-led India will be fearing. Over the years, Smith has made the Indians run for their money and made their lives hard on the field, especially in the longest format of the game. Although Smith's prowess has gotten lesser against the Asian giants lately, he's one such player who thrives in big situations.
Notably, Smith has an average close to 100 at the Oval, but among the current Indian bowling crop, Ravindra Jadeja and Umesh Yadav could turn up lethal against the maestro batter.
Smith vs Indian bowlers
Smith against Ashwin: Dismissals - 8, Dots - 505, Average - 54.2
Smith against Jadeja: Dismissals - 7, Dots - 532, Average - 33.1
Smith against Umesh: Dismissals - 4, Dots - 266, Average - 66.8
Smith against Shami: Dismissals - 1, Dots - 142, Average - 137.0
Smith against Siraj: Dismissals - 1, Dots - 83, Average - 44.0
Travis Head
The head, batting at Number five, is one prime reason for Australia's success in the current WTC cycle. He scored crucial runs in the middle order rapidly, which not only made the opposition bowlers switch to different plans but also helped the other batters do their job freely.
Interestingly, the Southpaw has only met the Indians in just one series in the recently concluded BGT, where the conditions weren't favourable for his style of play.
He will be eager to face Rohit Sharma & Co. at the Oval but might face trouble against Mohammed Shami and Ravi Ashwin in particular.
Head vs Indian bowlers
Head against Ashwin: Dismissals - 3, Dots - 227, Average - 41.7
Head against Shami: Dismissals - 3, Dots - 103, Average - 27.0
Head against Jadeja: Dismissals - 1, Dots - 134, Average - 75.0
Head against Siraj: Dismissals - 1, Dots - 24, Average - 20.0
Cameron Green
The big lanky Green has shown exceptional hitting against pace bowling, and he gets comfortable when the ball comes up on his blade. The Indian seamers may have got his number four times in as little as nine innings, but Ravi Jadeja will be the most dangerous against him. The left-arm tweaker's ball drifting away from Green may have his name written on it.
Green vs Indian bowlers
Green against Ashwin: Dismissals - 2, Dots - 119, Average - 38.0
Green against Siraj: Dismissals - 2, Dots - 143, Average - 33.5
Green against Shardul: Dismissals - 1, Dots - 28, Average - 3.0
Green against Umesh: Dismissals - 1, Dots - 16, Average - 35.0
Alex Carey
The last recognized batter has been an evergreen problem for India. From Sam Currans to Jos Buttlers to Kyle Jamieson - everyone has left deep scars as they start taking it leniently if the top guns get dismissed. And Carey is one such batter with shots up his sleeve to take on any bowling lineup on any pitch. But both the tweakers can be potent against the left-handed keeper-batter.
Carey vs Indian bowlers
Carey against Ashwin: Dismissals - 5, Dots - 27, Average - 5.0
Carey against Shami: Dismissals - 2, Dots - 30, Average - 30.0
Carey against Jadeja: Dismissals - 1, Dots - 3, Average - 8.0
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