Australia v India: First Test preview

Australia and India, the top two teams in the ICC World Rankings, meet in a much-anticipated five-Test series and the opening contest gets underway at Optus Stadium in Perth on Friday.

This match-up has taken on an importance close to that of the Ashes in recent times and the tourists will have the extra motivation of having suffered a 3-0 home whitewash at the hands of New Zealand in their most recent Test series.

The Baggy Greens' last Test outing was also against the Black Caps - when they won 2-0 in New Zealand back in March - but they have lost their last four series against India, including two on home soil.

Australia v India betting preview

Focus certain to be on McSweeney

Australia have opted for an all-new opener for the massive task ahead at the Optus Stadium, with Nathan McSweeney not only making his Test debut, but also opening the batting for just the second time in his career.

His selection means that Steven Smith will shuffle back down to number four, with the hosts having won all four of the previous Test matches played at this venue, which traditionally suits the pace bowlers.

Aussie off-spinner Nathan Lyon is the notable exception to the rule and has excelled at Optus Stadium, taking 28 wickets at 18.00 across those four victories, including eight wickets in a 146-run win over India back in December 2018.

With that in mind, he is almost certain to be selected alongside fast bowlers Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood, with all-rounder Mitch Marsh taking on the fourth seamer role.

Marsh is also likely to bat at six, while wicketkeeper-batter Alex Carey is set to slot in at seven, although his recent form could see him promoted above Marsh in the order.

Left-hander Carey has made scores of 90, 111, 42, 123 not out, 44 and 42 in three Sheffield Shield outings for South Australia this season, before adding innings of 36 and 75 in the One-Day Cup.

The 33-year-old has not enjoyed too much success with the bat against India to date, passing 50 just once in eight innings, but he is currently in the sort of form which could see him improve on that record.

India have plenty to ponder

India may have won 2-1 in their last two Test series in Australia, but they arrive this time on the back of an unprecedented 3-0 home series sweep at the hands of New Zealand.

And, with conditions in Perth expected to favour the bowlers, they are also shorn of the services of two of their leading batters - Rohit Sharma (paternity leave) and Shubman Gill (hand injury).

Their absences mean a major reshuffle at the top of the batting order, with KL Rahul expected to open alongside Yashasvi Jaiswal in place of Test skipper Rohit, Devdutt Padikkal poised to take on the number three role and Dhruv Jurel slotting in at six.

Virat Kohli and wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant will shoulder huge responsibilities at four and five, with the former having made more than 2,000 Test runs against the Aussies at 47.48.

However, Kohli has just two half-centuries from his last 14 Test innings, having struggled for form against South Africa, Bangladesh and New Zealand.

Left-hander Pant has certainly enjoyed success in his previous Test appearances against Australia, averaging 62.40 from 12 innings, with his lowest score 23.

The tourists also have decisions to make about their bowling attack, which will be spearheaded by the outstanding Jasprit Bumrah, who will also captain the side in the absence of Rohit.

R Ashwin seems set to be included as the lone frontline spinner, with seamers spots up for grabs for all of Mohammed Siraj, Akash Deep, Harshit Rana and Prasidh Krishna, while all-rounder Nitish Kumar Reddy is challenging hard to make his Test debut.

Australia v India odds

Australia - 1.40
Draw - 15.00
India - 3.60

View the full market and more odds for Australia v India on site

Read more cricket previews on site

This article was written by a partner sports writer via Spotlight Sports Group. All odds displayed on this page were correct at the time of writing and are subject to withdrawal or change at any time.