Australia vs India: Aussies likely to tinker with the batting order for the 4th Test

The Australian team had a year to forget, apart from Ashes they failed to win any Test series in the year 2018. Their batsman also had a tough year after the suspension of their key batsmen David Warner and Steven Smith. Apart from Usman Khawaja, there was no other batsman who featured in top 10 Test run-getters in 2018 and his century against Pakistan in Dubai was the only ton by an Australian this year.

The Aussie batsmen’s struggle continued in series against India and no batsman apart from form Travis Head averages more than 30. Even the likes of Khawaja, Head and the skipper Tim Paine failed to convert their starts into knocks of value. Whereas the only positive to take for Australians in this series so far has been Pat Cummins. The 25-year-old showed a lot of promise with both bat and ball, scoring 138 runs and taking 14 wickets so far including his career-best figures of 6/27.

Aussies likely to change the batting order

Since the batting failures continue, the home side is likely to make a few changes in the batting order. To strengthen their batting order it is expected that the selectors will bring Peter Handscomb back in the playing eleven. Handscomb was dropped from the third Test following his poor performances that returned with just 68 runs in four innings and an average of 17.

If he is included in the squad, is to play at number four and Aaron Finch might get a lifeline to prove himself as the Australians have fewer options in the squad. In case Finch bats in the middle order, Handscomb would open.

Another probable change is Marnus Labuschange replacing all-rounder Mitchell Marsh after he failed to make an impression with the bat scoring 19 runs in two innings at the MCG. Marnus will also provide Paine with an option of the extra spinner as the Sydney pitch is expected to be spinner friendly.

Langer backs Finch

Despite being criticised by the former players for his poor show with the bat the Australian head coach Justin Langer has backed Aaron Finch to come good in the fourth Test. The right-hander has failed throughout the series and scored just 91 runs in 6 innings with an ordinary average of 16.16.

The fourth Test of Border-Gavaskar trophy will start from 3rd January Team India is leading  2-1 and look set to win their 1st ever Test series Down Under.

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