India's tour of Australia: SWOT analysis of the Indian team

“Inside my heart is breaking... But the smile still goes on... The show must go on...”When the famed English Rock Band Queen penned these words way back in 1991, little would one have guessed that 23 years hence, in 2014, the lyrics would hold true for a bunch of cricketers who played the sport simply out of pure passion.Life between the 22 yards had always been associated with joys dished out by hard-fought victories and frustrating losses.But that was before 27th November 2014.The cricketing fraternity stood traumatised as it saw the loss of a member on the field of play whenAustralian Phil Hughes succumbed to injuries 2 days after being hit on the head by a Sean Abbott bouncer. Needless to say, it left the rest of the players numbed and shell shocked.For long, “tragedy” was a term loosely used in the game but this was life’s own way of unravelling its harsh tragedy upon the sport.Cricket took a backseat as the world united in mourning the death of a son with the Australian team deeply overwhelmed in grief and emotion at the loss of their dear colleague.The much awaited 4 test match series between India and Australia, which was to begin from 4th December, was pushed back 5 days, in order to give the Australians along with the cricketing family the chance to mourn and come to terms with this void, which had been mercilessly created by fate.An overwhelming funeral later, it was finally time to realise that life, just like the ocean, has to go on and as India prepares to face Australia in their den, Hughes’ eternal shadow is sure to tower on in what will be an emotional series.Here’s a look at the SWOT (strength-weakness-opportunity-threat) analysis of the Indian cricket team and their chances in the four tests which will kick-start a gruelling season ahead.

#1 Strengths

India has always been considered a batting-heavy team with the presence of the Fab Four in the middle order. If they piled on the runs, the chances of the team emerging victorious increased manifold. Let’s be honest. Despite being offered the best of conditions the bowling attack was never expected to win matches abroad, let alone help pocket a series. There would always be a pedestrian third seamer who was capable of taking off all the pressure which had been created by the other two pacers.

After a long time the bowling attack inspires confidence and even though they might not send shivers down the opposition, they still have the ability to hunt as a pack and give Australia a taste of their own medicine.

Bhuvaneshwar Kumar’s accurate seam position compliments Mohammad Shami’s reverse swing well and in Umesh Yadav and Varun Aaron, the team has bowlers who can hurl the cherry consistently at 140kmph while Ishant Sharma has the onus of leading the attack. The 4 youngsters have picked up a total of 100 wickets in 32 games and in favourable conditions they are expected to be a handful.

Amongst the batsmen Virat Kohli, who has long been India’s mainstay, will have the responsibility of guiding India to totals which can be defended. He announced his Test arrival with a 116 in Adelaide the last time India toured Down Under in 2012 and since then has racked up 1855 runs in 29 test matches. A below average tour to England, where he managed only 134 runs in 10 innings would have left him disappointed and he would be raring to make amends.

Along with Kohli, Cheteshwar Pujara and Ajinkya Rahane have the technique and temperament to withstand the short pitched deliveries (which will be in plentiful!) and fine performances will help ease the pressure on Kohli and the players to follow.

Lack of expectations, given the decimation received by the team in 2011-12, could also go in their favour.

#2 Weaknesses

Routings in South Africa, New Zealand and England earlier this year along with a 0-8 whitewash accorded to MS Dhoni’s boys in 2011 by England and Australia have raised serious questions about India’s ability to compete overseas in the longer format of the game.

The team suffered a -1-3 loss against Alastair Cook’s boys in August this year with the Indian team being unable to last five days in Manchester and The Oval.

It brought to focus India’s opening woes where Shikhar Dhawan’s vulnerability in handling stuff in and around the off-stump along with lack of footwork, saw him scoring only 122 runs in 6 innings. He was dismissed by the 14th over on 5 occasions thus exposing the middle order to the new ball.

Dhawan’s dismissal in the 1st innings of the 2nd warm up game against Cricket Australia XI, where he was dismissed for naught playing a bouncer, highlighted the concerns once again.

The lack of a quality seaming all-rounder (Stuart Binny was chosen for the role in England without impressing) might force Dhoni to drop an extra seamer in favour of Ravinder Jadeja or Ravichandran Ashwin, spinners who can be handy with the bat as well.

However, both look a pale shadow of themselves in overseas conditions. Ashwin’s inability to extract bounce and spin from the pitches means he has a high average of 74.77 in the 4 matches he’s played abroad, while Sir Jadeja’s lack of variations makes him predictable.

Finally, Dhoni’s defensive captaincy has earned him the wrath of cricketing legends, with Sourav Ganguly even calling him “obnoxious” and someone “who allows the opposition to get back into the game.”

His tactical blunders in England, where he chose to go in with two spinners in overcast conditions in the 4th test in Old Trafford or starting day 3 of the same match with Jadeja and Pankaj Singh over Bhuvneshwar and Aaron was appalling to say the least and reinforced his defensive mindset in the longer formats of the game.

#3 Opportunities

The Indian team should consider themselves lucky. Very, very lucky.

With the WC scheduled to start on February 14, 2015 in Australia and New Zealand, the 4 test matches along with the tri-series which will follow (featuring the home team and England) will give the team ample time to get acclimatised to the conditions.

A good performance against a team which is mentally under prepared following the bereavement of Hughes will silence critics and boost the morale of the players ahead of the biggest cricketing event.

It is also the ideal opportunity for Raina to get back into the Indian test fold. The left-hander is a regular in the shorter formats and scored an impressive 120 on Test debut in Sri Lanka in 2010 before his problems against the short pitch deliveries in England led to his axing. He had averaged a poor 13.12 in 8 innings 3 years ago, scoring 105 runs and has made an entry into the test squad on the back of impressive performances England earlier this year.

Dhoni, probably on his last test tour to Australia cannot afford another series loss with the aggressive Kohli closing in on his heels to take over the test mantle. Another overseas defeat under Dhoni’s leadership will only strengthen the latter's case further.

#4 Threats

Questions are being asked about the mental ability of the Australians to play the rescheduled series after the death of Hughsey, with Coach Darren Lehman continuously muttering “only time will tell” on being asked if the team is prepared to take on India just days after bidding farewell to the 25 year old.

But that is what makes them dangerous.

For a continent engulfed in grief, a comprehensive win will be the ideal homage that can be paid to the country’s most talented prodigy in a series where his aura is sure to loom large.

The biggest threat for the Indians will undeniably be Mitchell Johnson, the assailant, who alone is enough to break the backbone of the Indian batting order. The bouncers will be bowled and the off-stump will be targeted by an attack comprising Ryan Harris and Peter Siddle and this might prove to be India’s Achilles Heel as the series progresses.

Uncertainties lie over who will captain India in the first test given the fact that Dhoni was ruled out of the series opener owing to injury. However with the rescheduled series, he is expected to make a comeback, denying Kohli the opportunity to debut as a leader.

Umesh Yadav’s untimely remarks where he gave preference to Kohli as captain of the team might prove detrimental to the dressing room in case of another series of losses.

A four match test series in a month followed by the tri-series and the WC in quick succession can be highly strenuous to the mind and the muscle, especially for the faster bowlers.

In England, Bhuvi was given a game in all the 5 matches and even though he impressed, picking up 19 wickets, he was clearly struggling in the ODI’s that followed.

Relative success in the practice games does not guarantee triumphs at the highest level and even though the Aussies might be down, come December 9 the same aggressive intensity is sure to return. In Lehman’s words, “Hughsey would want us to do just that”, and India should well be wary of it.