5 reasons why the Pune Test won't be a cakewalk for team India

Australia are no longer the force they used to be in world cricket. Gone are the days when the Aussie juggernaut rolled on with no one to challenge their might. Retirements of key players and some legends over the past few years have now led to a team which is in its rebuilding phase.

With Steve Smith at the helm, they haven’t done too well in the recent Tests. Expect for beating Pakistan 3-0, they lost the other two series against South Africa and Sri Lanka quite convincingly.

Not even die hard fans are giving this side a chance to win a Test let alone the series against India which starts from tomorrow. India are the No.1 side and they have been on a roll for a year and a half or so.

But then again you are talking about a team which is resilient and would refuse to budge an inch without putting up a fight. Here is this article we list 5 reasons why the Pune Test won’t be a cakewalk for Virat Kohli and his men.

#5 The Australian batting

Warner (right) has been in brilliant form of late

Though it looks a very inexperienced side on pen and paper, the top-order can be dangerous on a flat pitch.

David Warner has been in scintillating form of late. He has scored two big hundreds in his last five Test innings and would be itching to score big against the Indians. On the other hand, Matt Renshaw is coming into the game at the back of a dazzling 184 against Pakistan in Sydney. The left-hander is just 20 but already looks like a future star.

Next in the batting line-up is the captain Steve Smith. He too is coming into the game at the back of a hundred which he scored against India A in a tour game a few days back. In that game, Shaun Marsh who will be in all probability be the one at No.5 scored an unbeaten ton also.

Mitchell Marsh and Mathew Wade will be oozing with confidence too after getting to their half-centuries in the tour game.

Overall, the unit does pack a punch, and the Indian bowlers need to be at their very best to grab all 20 Australian wickets.

#4 The form of the Marsh brothers

The brothers in action in a Test match

They could be the X-factors of this team. While elder brother Shaun is almost certain of a place in the playing XI, Mitchell is likely to be selected ahead of Glenn Maxwell.

Now we have not yet seen the brothers play to their full potential at the international arena, but what if they suddenly spring into life? Shaun has quite a good record in the subcontinent playing against the likes of Sri Lanka and he is by far Australia’s best player of spin.

But he hasn’t played in a Test since last November and it will be tough to get going from the outset. However, his century in the tour game might give him the much-needed confidence and if he starts to deliver he will be quite a force to reckon with.

Meanwhile, Mitchell hasn’t played a first-class game since breaking down in a South African Test last November. But if he gets going with either of the two, he has the ability to change the game in just one session.

#3 Mitchell Starc

Mitchell Starc

Since the retirement of Mitchell Johnson, Starc has taken over the responsibility of spearheading the Aussie pace attack and has now grown to be the most feared pacer on the planet.

But, Starc has often been overlooked on dry and low tracks with the attention being stolen by the spinners.

For the record, in the dust bowls in Sri Lanka last year, Starc pocketed 24 wickets proving that he can deliver even on the worst of the surfaces. Now pitches in India over the last few series haven’t been rank turners that one is used too. Now, if Starc is given a fresh wicket to bowl on in Pune he could literally swing the tie in favour of the Aussie within the first one hour.

Also, Starc has developed his reverse swing immensely in the last few years. In these conditions, he can be quite lethal when the ball gets a little older.

#2 Nathan Lyon and Stephen O’ Keefe

A lot will depend on how Lyon bowls in the Test match

The last time Lyon was in India some four years back he snared 18 wickets in three Test matches. There’s no reason why he cannot repeat or better the feat this time around.

He will probably have Stephen O’ Keefe as his spin partner as the duo worked well in tandem in the last Test match against Pakistan in Sydney. With his line and accurate length, Keefe has the ability to hold one end up and that might give Lyon more opportunity to give the ball more air and a little more rip.

Although the Indian batsmen will be in no mood to help the duo settle down, they will have their chances which they will need to grab whenever they come.

Australia will desperately need the spin twins to fire if they have any hope of winning the Test.

#1 The never say die attitude

Australia are one of those teams who refuse to budge an inch

Much like the Germans in football, Australia are the most resilient outfit in cricket. They have always been hailed for their never say die attitude which they have to tap into if they are to beat the Indians in Pune or the series.

Touring India is never easy. For batsmen and bowlers who have grown on bouncy pitches and seaming conditions, the subcontinent is a nightmare.

But for inspiration, they can look back to the 1995 tour to West Indies when Mark Taylor led a young and unfancied squad. Most of the senior players were injured but Taylor was in no mood to give up that easily.

They grind it out against a tough West Indies team and eventually pocketed the series 2-1. Steve Smith and his men can take a lesson from this famous win and give it their all against the mighty Indians.