Make no mistake, successful a Test sequence in India is the toughest problem in cricket. Only Andrew Strauss’ England, who’re more and more changing into an underrated crew because the years roll by, have conquered this formidable terrain within the final 18 years.

Winning the well-known Ashes sequence in England, one other bogey for Australia, would possibly obtain far more consideration however beating India of their comforts will ascend Pat Cummins’ crew to greatness degree.

The seamer-friendly surfaces in England have confirmed a thorn for Australia, an excellent longer sequence successful drought than in India, however the spinning, dusty decks of India have precipitated a few of their darkest ever moments.

Even their all-time greats haven’t been immune. Legendary legspinner Shane Warne was memorably thumped by rival Sachin Tendulkar in 1998 like he not often had ever been earlier than or since. Ricky Ponting might barely sniff a run in 2001, tortured by spinner Harbhajan Singh.

There was additionally the embarrassing homework scandal in 2013 which successfully price then coach Mickey Arthur his job.

Against the percentages, an inexperienced Australia fought surprisingly arduous in 2017 earlier than working out of puff in the direction of the backend. Then the sandpaper saga derailed them 12 months later with Australia subsequently shedding two dwelling sequence in opposition to India, who had by no means beforehand tasted success Down Under.

After a dominant previous 12 months below new captain Pat Cummins, a confident Australia have jumped to the highest of the Test rankings – which does not imply an entire lot to be sincere – however the eye take a look at does present that that is the nation’s finest crew since their heyday led to 2007.

Apart from maybe spin depth, Australia are nicely stocked throughout the board though some premature accidents for what had been such a steady crew exposes warts forward of their large Indian problem.

With fast Mitchell Starc dominated out of the primary Test, allrounder Cameron Green might be part of him on the sidelines for the sequence opener with a finger harm to significantly unsettle Australia’s steadiness.

Even although the surfaces in India are anticipated to spin viciously, Australia’s finest likelihood of a sequence victory might be to duplicate their well-known blueprint in 2004 the place they deployed three quicks alongside Warne, who principally had a middling document in India however was used successfully to carry out the grunt work.

Without Green’s sharp seamers, Australia will greater than probably want to make use of one in every of their backup spinners – Mitchell Swepson, Ashton Agar and uncapped Todd Murphy. Legspinner Swepson might be the very best candidate though he principally struggled in Pakistan and Sri Lanka and was on the outer within the Australian summer time though carried out nicely within the backend of the Big Bash League season.

Against South Africa earlier within the month, Agar returned from a five-year Test absence in a wicketless return and the white-ball specialist has by no means confirmed his price within the longer format.

Green’s absence is shaping as a game-changer for Australia, who nonetheless can be realistically dreaming of a sequence victory in India for the primary time since 2004. They won’t get India extra susceptible with the hosts to be with out injured stars Jasprit Bumrah and Rishabh Pant, who just lately was concerned in a horrendous automobile crash.

Australia’s quicks, particularly Cummins, can bowl indefatigable spells that are essential to surviving the sapping situations in India. Frontline spinner Nathan Lyon looms as a serious key and can want a bumper sequence within the face of an anticipated onslaught from India’s star batters.

Australia’s batting seems somewhat extra shaky with not a lot expertise in India bar veterans Steve Smith and David Warner, who has a poor document over there. Rather a lot has been made about swashbuckling No.5 Travis Head’s fragilities in South Asia and the way it’s straightforward to unleash such cavalier batting amid dwelling comforts when a mighty platform had been laid as was repeatedly the case over summer time.

Head looms as a litmus take a look at for Australia and if he backs his attacking instincts then that may simply be instructive of the crew’s method and general confidence that has slowly been rebuilt for the reason that darkish days of Newlands.

For the primary time in virtually twenty years, Australia are justified in believing they will win in India in what shapes as an era-defining triumph.

Don’t be stunned in the event that they pull off cricket’s hardest problem.