Leading the four-match Test series by 2-1, the visiting side India is ready to face the hosts Australia in the final Test of the series at Sydney cricket Ground (Sydney), starting on Thursday (3 December). A draw will enough for the Indian side to win their first ever Test series on the Australian soil while Australia will have to win this Test match to save the series.

India won the first Test of the series at Adelaide by 31 runs while the hosts levelled the series after winning the second Test by 146 runs at the new Perth stadium (Optus Stadium). India regained the lead of the series after winning the previous Test at Melbourne by 137 runs.

Australian cricket team

Australian inexperienced batting is one of the top issues of the national side. The top-order batsmen are not in consistent form, even in their home soil. While the middle and lower-order batting is carrying the side in the good way, the better top-order batting can easily create a stronger side.

Also read: Australia Is Likely To Make Two Changes In Playing XI For The Sydney Test

The Australian bowling attack is one of the best bowling attacks in the present world cricket. While the every pacer can lead the bowling attack, the off-spinner Nathan Lyon has been considered as the best spinner in the present world cricket.

Indian cricket team

The visiting side Indian cricket team is at the top position in the confidence level prior to the Sydney Test. While now they can’t lose this series anymore, India is very close to win their historic Test series on the Australian soil for the first time ever.

Indian bowlers are on the top-form at present. In 2018, the Indian pacers dominated all over the world. Currently, this pace bowling side has been considered as the best pace bowling side in the present international cricket. The spinners are also in very good form. Despite some injury issues, every bowler is dedicated to make top contributions for the side.

Also read: India’s 13-man Squad For The Sydney Test

While the skipper Virat Kohli and Cheteshwar Pujara are in top form with the bats, the recently debutant Mayank Agarwal has impressed hugely as an opening batsman. However, the other batsmen need to be more consistent, especially the middle and lower-order batting.

Full squads

Australia: Tim Paine (capt/wk), Josh Hazlewood (vc), Mitchell Marsh (vc), Pat Cummins, Aaron Finch, Peter Handscomb, Marcus Harris, Travis Head, Usman Khawaja, Nathan Lyon, Shaun Marsh, Peter Siddle, Mitchell Starc, Chris Tremain and Marnus Labuschagne.

India: Virat Kohli (capt), Ajinkya Rahane (vc), Jasprit Bumrah, Ravindra Jadeja, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Rishabh Pant (wk), Parthiv Patel, Cheteshwar Pujara, KL Rahul, Mohammed Shami, Ishant Sharma, Hanuma Vihari, Murali Vijay, Kuldeep Yadav, Umesh Yadav, Hardik Pandya, Mayank Agarwal, Ravichandran Ashwin

Key Stats Preview:

• India has played 11 Tests at Sydney Cricket Ground (Sydney) where they have won only once (January 1978) and lost five times (drawn five times).
• Australia has played 106 Tests at Sydney Cricket Ground (Sydney) where they have won 59 Tests and lost 28 Tests (drawn 19 Tests).
• Last time, Australia lost a Test match at SCG was in January 2011 against England (by an innings & 83 runs).
• India has never won a Test series on the Australian soil.
• Only once, India has won the final Test match of the Test series on the Australian soil. It was during India’s tour of Australia in 1980/81 where the visitors had drawn the Test series by winning the final match of the series at Melbourne Cricket Ground (Melbourne).
• Australian left-arm pacer Mitchell Starc (198 Test wickets) needs to take two more wickets to complete his 200 Test wickets. After Mitchell Johnson (313 Test wickets), Starc will be the second Australian left-arm bowler to claim 200 or more Test wickets. In overall, Starc will be the 17th Australian bowler to claim 200 or more Test wickets.
• Australian skipper Tim Paine (934 Test runs) needs to score 66 more runs to complete his 1,000 Test runs. Paine will be sixth Australian wicketkeeper-batsman to score 1,000 or more Test runs.
• Indian pacer Jasprit Bumrah has picked up 48 wickets in 9 Tests. If he picks up two more wickets during Sydney Test, the right-arm pacer will be the joint second fastest Indian bowler (according to no. of matches) to claim 50 Test wickets (Anil Kumble also achieved his 50 Test wickets in 10 Tests). The record holder is the off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin who achieved this feat in 9 Tests.