One of cricket’s most intense rivalries resumes when Australia meet India in the First Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy in Perth this week.
The teams ranked No1 and No2 in the world meet across five Tests between now and early January, the first series of such length between the nations in more than three decades.
India currently hold the Border-Gavaskar trophy – named after former captains Allan Border and Sunil Gavaskar – having won each of the last four editions. That run includes famous back-to-back series wins Down Under: their first ever in 2018/19 and then an epic fightback with a depleted squad four years ago.
However, Rohit Sharma’s side have just been humbled 3-0 by New Zealand – their first home Test series defeat in more than a decade – and now meet an Australian team that beat them in both the World Test Championship and 50-over World Cup finals last year.
Date, UK start time and venue
The First Test of this Australia vs India series is scheduled to start at 2:20am GMT on Friday, November 22, 2024.
The match will be played at Optus Stadium in Perth.
Where to watch Australia vs India
TV channel: The match will be televised on TNT Sports 1.
Live stream: TNT Sports subscribers will be able to watch the match online via the website or discovery+ app.
Australia vs India: Full Border-Gavaskar Trophy schedule
First Test – November 22-26, Perth
Second Test – December 6-10, Adelaide
Third Test – December 14-18, Brisbane
Fourth Test – December 25-30, Melbourne
Fifth Test – January 2-7, Sydney
Australia vs India team news
Australia are without all-rounder Cameron Green, who has been ruled out for the entire series with a back injury. As a result, Steve Smith will return to his preferred role at No4, having moved up the order to open the batting last winter following David Warner’s retirement.
Instead, 25-year-old Nathan McSweeney is set to make his Test debut as partner to Usman Khawaja, having beaten off competition from Cameron Bancroft, Marcus Harris and Sam Konstas.
Australia squad: Pat Cummins (c), Scott Boland, Alex Carey (wk), Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Nathan Lyon, Mitch Marsh, Nathan McSweeney, Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc.
India will be without captain Rohit Sharma for the series-opener following the birth of his second child, with the batter expected to be available for the Second Test in Adelaide next month.
Jasprit Bumrah will lead the side in his absence, while KL Rahul is in contention to open, but there is no Mohamed Shami, who only made his return from almost a year out injured in India’s domestic Ranji Trophy last week.
The tourists are expected to delay naming their side until the first morning of the game in order to give No3 Shubman Gill every chance of being fit after he was struck on the thumb in practice.
India squad: Rohit Sharma (c), Jasprit Bumrah (vc), Yashasvi Jaiswal, Abhimanyu Easwaran, Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, KL Rahul, Rishabh Pant, Sarfaraz Khan, Dhruv Jurel, Ravichandran Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, Mohammed Siraj, Akash Deep, Prasidh Krishna, Harshit Rana, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Washington Sundar. Reserves: Mukesh Kumar, Navdeep Saini, Khaleel Ahmed
Australia vs India prediction
Australia triumphed by eight wickets in the opening Test of the series four years ago, with India famously bowled out for 36 in their second innings.
While things ought not to be quite that dramatic this time, the hosts look a strong bet to get off to a flying start, with India still reeling from that New Zealand defeat.
Australia to win.
Australia vs India match odds
Australia to win: 4/11
Draw: 14/1
India to win: 5/2
Odds via Betfair (subject to change).
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