The fifth and final test Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25 between Australia and India is set to begin on January 3, 2025 at the iconic Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG). With Australia leading the series 2-1, this match is crucial for both teams. A win for Australia would not only secure them the series but also strengthen their position in the World Test Championship (WTC) standings, which would potentially make their way to the WTC finals easier. On the other hand, India aims to save their pride and retain the trophy they successfully defended in the previous encounters. To level the series at 2-2, India must win this match, which is vital for their hopes of qualifying for the WTC finals.
Australia enter this Test with momentum after a comprehensive victory in the fourth match at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, where they defeated India by 184 runs. The Australian team includes a captain Pat Cumminsdeputy captains Travis Head and Steve Smithand key players like Marnus Labuschagne and Nathan Lyon. However, they will have to follow Mitchell Starchis fitness as he remains a key part of their bowling attack. On the Indian side, Captain Rohit Sharma leads a talented cast that includes stars like Virat Kohli and Rishabh Pant. The Indian team boasts of a strong bowling contingent Ravindra Jadeja and Jasprit Bumrah they are expected to play key roles.
AUS vs IND: Head-to-head record in Test cricket
- Test matches played: 111
- Australia won: 47
- India won: 33
- Matches drawn: 30
- Australia’s highest total against India: 674
- Australia’s lowest total against India: 83
- India’s highest total against Australia: 705/7
- India’s lowest total against Australia: 36
Test statistics and records at the Sydney Cricket Ground
- Total matches: 114
- Matches won by kicking: 47
- The matches got bowling first: 43
- Average first innings score: 318
- Average score of the 2nd innings: 311
- Average score of the 3rd innings: 249
- Average score of the 4th innings: 169
- The highest total on record: 705/7 (187.3 Ov) India v Australia
- Lowest total on record: 42/10 (37.3 Ov) Australia v England
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Sydney Cricket Ground Report:
The pitch at the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG) for the fifth Test between Australia and India is expected to provide a balanced bat-to-ball contest. Historically, the SCG surface tends to be good for batting in the early stages, allowing batsmen to settle in and score runs. However, as the match progresses, it often starts helping the spinners, especially on the fourth and fifth days, making spin a key factor in the later stages of the game. The pitch may also show some wear and tear, leading to a variable bounce, which could cause challenges for batsmen. All in all, conditions are expected to be favorable for an exciting contest, with clear skies promising smooth play throughout the match. Teams will need to strategize accordingly, especially in terms of their bowling line-ups as the match progresses.
Determine:
Australia: Pat Cummins (c), Travis Head (vc), Steve Smith (vc), Sean Abbott, Scott Boland, Alex Carey, Josh Inglis, Usman Khawaja, Sam Konstas, Marnus Labuschagne, Nathan LyonMitchell Marsh, Jhye Richardson, Mitchell Starc, Beau Webster
India: Rohit Sharma (c), Yashasvi Jaiswal, Abhimanyu Easwaran, Virat Kohli, KL Rahul, Rishabh Pant (wk), Sarfaraz Khan, Dhruv Jurel, Tanush Kotian, Ravindra Jadeja, Mohammed Siraj, Akash Deep, Prasidh Krishna, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Washington Sundar, Jasprit Bumrah, Harshit Rana, Devdutt Padikkal
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