Australia vs India 2018-19: 5 players who might struggle in the Test series

After an exciting T20I series, India and Australia will turn their attention towards the Test series which begins December 6. Indian have never won a Test series in Australia and the closest they came was during the 2003/04 series, which ended 1-1. India’s last Test match win in Australia came more than a decade ago.

Australian will field arguably their weakest Test side of the 21st century, missing two of their most experienced batsmen, Steve Smith and David Warner. India, on the other hand, will fancy their chances of creating history with a series win on Australian soil.

India vs Australia Test match fixtures:

1st Test: Dec 6 to Dec 10at Adelaide Oval, Adelaide

2nd Test: Dec 14 to Dec 18at Perth Stadium, Perth

3rd Test: Dec 26 to Dec 30at MCG, Melbourne

4th Test: Jan 03 to Jan 07at SCG, Sydney

Here we take a look at the 5 players who might struggle in the Test series.

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#5 Aaron Finch

Pakistan v Australia: 2nd Test - Day Four

One of Australia’s finest limited-overs cricketers with 96 One Day Internationals and 50 T20Is, Aaron Finch made his Test match debut for Australia in October. A hugely successful cricketer in shorter versions of the game, Finch’s long-awaited Test match opportunity came at the age of 31.

Finch managed 181 runs in the two Tests against Pakistan. The 32-year-old is not known for his first-class exploits and averages only 36.58. Finch will most likely open the batting for Australia in the first Test and this could be one of the biggest tests of his cricketing career.

This is one of India’s strongest bowling unit in recent times, with the likes of Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammad Shami, and Ishant Sharma. Finch might find it hard to score against the quality Indian seamers.

#4 Ravichandran Ashwin

Ravi Ashwin, England v India: Specsavers 1st Test - Day One

One of India’s most successful spinners in world cricket at the moment, Ravichandran Ashwin has struggled in overseas conditions. Though his record on subcontinent pitches has been simply phenomenal, he could not make it count during the away tours, particularly in England, Australia, and South Africa.

Ravi Ashwin has played six Test matches in Australia and his best bowling figure stands at 4/105. He has picked up 21 wickets at an average of 54.71 and a poor strike rate of 97.05. He never managed to take a five-for in Australia and found it really hard to influence the game.

In his last tour to Australia, the Tamil Nadu spinner has picked up only 12 at a strike rate of 86. The conditions in Australia may not assist spinners and the 32-year-old will find it hard to take wickets.

#3 Shaun Marsh

Shaun Marsh with the bat, Pakistan v Australia: 2nd Test - Day Two, Abu Dhabi

Shaun Marsh's international career never really took off. Having made his Test match debut for Australia in 2011, Marsh has represented Australia in only 34 Test matches. Though he has played some excellent knocks, he was far too inconsistent.

Shaun Marsh's record against India is pretty awful. In 11 Tests, Marsh averages only 21. Even at home, Shaun Marsh averages only 22.58 against India. Marsh never scored a Test match hundred against India and managed only four fifties in 20 innings.

The 35-year-old has clearly struggled against India bowlers in the past and Virat Kohli would want to hold on to that leash. In the absence of David Warner and Steve Smith, Marsh is one of their key players and keeping him quiet is vital to India's success in the Test series.

#2 KL Rahul

KL Rahul, England v India: Specsavers 5th Test - Day Five

Lokesh Rahul is expected to open the batting for India in the first Test against Australia at Adelaide Oval. The Karnataka batsman has struggled in the recently concluded T20I series against Australia with scores of 13 (12), DNB, and 14 (20).

Though Rahul has scored a Test hundred against Australia at Sydney in just his second career Test match during the 14/15 tour, he struggled against swing and seam in the subsequent overseas series. He scored only 30 runs against South Africa early in the calendar year and managed to get only one 50+ score in eight innings against England in August.

The 26-year-old is not in great form at the moment and also, Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood, and Pat Cummins will not make it easy for the youngster. His biggest challenge will be to see the new ball through.

#1 Rohit Sharma

Rohit Sharma, 2nd Sunfoil Test series: South Africa v India, Day 4

Rohit Sharma has played only 25 Tests for India so far in a career that spanned more than 10 years. For a player who has amassed seven 150+ totals in ODIs, Rohit Sharma’s Test match statistics hasn’t been impressive. With only three hundreds in 43 innings, Rohit has struggled for consistency in the longer version of the game.

Though he has played some big knocks in India, his away form was really awful. One of Rohit Sharma’s biggest weakness is his inability to play the moving ball. In 15 away Tests so far, Rohit Sharma has scored only 710 runs at an average of 25.36.

He hasn’t scored a single hundred and managed only four fifties in the away Tests. Rohit Sharma has got enough opportunities so far and this might be his last one.