Australia's instability gives India something to target in first Test | Geoff Lemon

The hosts are a more rounded batting side now but their main weakness lies with David Warner’s initial absence

As Australia and India shape up for four Test matches across December and January, it is impossible to look at the series without overlaying the context of two years ago, when India last visited for the same sort of engagement and departed with a 2-1 win.

The home team’s preferred bowling attack this summer will be identical: Mitchell Starc, Patrick Cummins, Josh Hazlewood and Nathan Lyon. The first match will again be at Adelaide, and the captains shaking hands at the toss will again be Tim Paine and Virat Kohli. India’s attack will again be led by Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Shami, with Ravi Ashwin as spin support, while their batting starch will again come courtesy of Cheteshwar Pujara and Ajinkya Rahane.

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