Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25: Australia Playing 11 for first test in Perth - Predicted

Australia will be looking to regain the Border-Gavaskar Trophy in the upcoming series against India.

Starting November 22 in Perth, the Australian cricket team will be hosting the Indian cricket team in a five-match test series for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.

This is the first time since the 1991/92 series that India and Australia will compete in a five-match test series. Australia have lost the last four test series against India, including twice at home and would be desperate to thump the Asian giants after a decade of wait. Australia’s last test series win over India came at home in the 2014/15 series.

Australia’s XI is settled and there doesn’t seem to be any debate over any position. Cameron Green is recovering from a back surgery, so he’s unavailable for this series.

The hosts have announced a 13-man squad and the XI looks set in stone for now for the first test in Perth, where Cummins’ side will be starting as favourites.

Australia predicted playing 11 for the first test vs India in Perth:

1. Nathan McSweeney

25-year-old Nathan McSweeney is set to open in Perth. While he has batted at No. 3 for South Australia and Australia A, in the latest game against India A, McSweeney opened the batting.

In the last two years, he’s averaged 43 in First Class (FC) cricket and hit six centuries. McSweeney is also touted to lead Australia in the future.

McSweeney will take the opening spot that has been vacated by Steve Smith’s return to No. 4.

2. Usman Khawaja

37-year-old Usman Khawaja is the last phase of his career and would want to leave an impression in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024/25. Since 2022, the left-hander has averaged 53 with seven centuries, but hasn’t had the best of form in 2024: an average of 30 in five tests.

He would be aiming to bounce back to form and rack up a couple of big knocks against India.

2. Marnus Labuschagne

Marnus Labuschagne is the leading run-getter at the Optus Stadium in Perth, where he averages an unbelievable 103 in three tests, having notched up three centuries, including a double ton.

Labuschagne has had an ordinary 2024 so far, averaging only 30 in five test matches with no century.

4. Steve Smith

Steve Smith will return to his favoured No. 4 spot after a largely unsuccessful tryst with the opening spot. He will also cherish the opportunity to play India – against whom he averages 65 – and at the Optus Stadium, where he averages a magnificent 88, with a best of 200*.

This series could also be the last one for the 35-year-old Smith against India at home.

5. Travis Head

Travis Head is unarguably the best all-format batsman in the world right now and has been for the past couple of years.

Since his return to the side in the 2021 Ashes, Head has been in a terrific form: he’s averaged 42 in his last 30 tests and has a strike rate of 78. Head commands the ability to change the game in a session.

6. Mitchell Marsh

With Cameron Green ruled out, Mitchell Marsh will have to carry the responsibility of the fourth pacer and support the three frontline seamers.

He had a great 2023 with the bat, when he averaged 67 but has managed an average of only 26 in 2024. Perth is Marsh’s home ground. At the Optus Stadium, he’s played one match and recorded scores of 90 and 63*.

7. Alex Carey (wk)

Alex Carey has been Australia’s first-choice keeper since Tim Paine’s retirement. Against India, Carey averages 24 in five tests, four of those tests were in the 2023 series in India.

He’s batted only once at the Optus Stadium, scoring 34 runs.

8. Pat Cummins (C)

This will be the first time that Pat Cummins will be leading in a home BGT series. Cummins has taken 50 wickets in 13 tests against India at an average of 26.18.

At the Optus Stadium in Perth, Cummins has snared 12 wickets in four tests at 20.16. Apart from being one of the best test pacers in the world, Cummins can also contribute with the bat.

9. Mitchell Starc

Mitchell Starc has a terrific record at the Optus Stadium: 23 wickets in four tests at an average of 19 with one five-wicket haul.

Starc, though, averages an underwhelming 38.54 against India in tests, a record he would be desperate to improve in the upcoming series.

10. Nathan Lyon

Nathan Lyon has been Australia’s premier spinner for over a decade and produced a few match-winning performances against India, both home and away. Lyon has 121 test wickets against India, the second-most any bowler has taken against them, with nine five-fors.

He’s the leading test wicket-taker at the Optus Stadium with 27 wickets in four tests at an average of only 18, including two five-fors.

11. Josh Hazlewood

Hazlewood sometimes goes under the radar in the presence of Cummins and Starc but is equally destructive as the other two, if not more.

The lanky pacer was the wrecker-in-chief in India’s 36 all-out in Adelaide in 2020. Hailed the ‘McGrath-clone,’ Hazlewood is a highly accurate bowler who has a great control of his line and length. Against India, he has 51 wickets in 15 tests with four five-wicket hauls.

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