The stage is set for a mouth-watering clash in the 4th and final Test in the Border Gavaskar Trophy. Both teams have plenty to play for, with Australia looking to level the series 2-2, whilst India are looking to qualify for the World Test Championship against Australia in June.
A crowd of more than 100,000 could be on hand for the opening day of play, which would be the highest attendance in Test Match history. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese are expected to be in attendance for Day 1.
Steve Smith will captain the Australian side again due to Pat Cummins deciding to stay back in Australia to look after his sick mother.
Australia looked a completely different side in the 3rd Test. The inclusion of Cameron Green looks to have strengthened the middle order of the Australian side whilst additionally giving them an option with the ball, even though conditions don’t overly suit his bowling.
Travis Head has flourished at the top of the order for the Australian side in tricky conditions, one can only wonder how the series would look had he not been dropped for the first test…
Photos have revealed two pitches being prepared in Ahmedabad, a decision which has left many cricket experts around the world completely baffled. Questions must be asked about the pitches currently dished up in India. In the 3 Tests played so far, not even 9 full days have been completed from a possible 15. When does creating pitches to suit the home team become detrimental to Test Cricket as a whole?
Unless the final pitch at Ahmedabad reveals an unlikely green top, expect Australia to go into the final test unchanged, after their 9-wicket win in Indore. India, however, may swing several changes. Mohammed Siraj may miss the final test with Mohammed Shami taking his place, after being rested for the 3rd Test. There are also talks from the Indian camp that white-ball keeper Ishan Kishan may make his debut, replacing K.S Bharat.
Predicted sides:
Australia: Usman Khawaja, Travis Head, Marnus Labuschagne, Steve Smith (C), Peter Handscomb, Cameron Green, Alex Carey (VC), Mitchell Starc, Nathan Lyon, Todd Murphy, Matt Kuhnemann
India: Shubman Gill, Rohit Sharma (c), Chesteshwar Pujara, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, Ishan Kishan, Ravindra Jadeja, R Ashwin, Axar Patel, Umesh Yadav, Mohammed Shami
When: Thursday, 9th of March, 3:00pm (AEDT)
Where: Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad, India
Watch: Foxtel/Kayo
