The Australian Test summer of cricket is approaching fast, and it’s going to be an absolute pearler.

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India will once again grace our shores in a 32-year first, with a five-match series between the two countries not played since 1991/92.

The visitors have won the last four series (two in India, two in Australia), leaving plenty of pride on the line for both sides — and not to mention the major implications a result will have on the World Test Championship.

Funnily, each of those last four series have fallen India’s way with a final scoreline of 2-1; in what has been a four-Test series for 13 years.

But they are hardly in form at the moment, having historically lost at home to New Zealand 3-0 in a whitewash drubbing.

But beyond all the history, results and rivalry between the powerhouse duo, sits a plethora of storylines that will define both the careers and legacies of modern day greats.

In other words, it’s a series of so many ‘lasts’ — but also some firsts.

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FAST BOWLING CARTEL’S CHANCE IT CAN’T LET SLIP

Incredibly, they’re still bowling at a world-class level, and we can’t take Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood and Pat Cummins for granted.

That’s worth remembering this summer as the trio prepares for what is very likely their last series against India on home soil together.

In each of India’s last two tours to Australia, it has been Starc, Cummins and Hazlewood who have faced them in all eight Tests — losing four, winning two and drawing two.

Rewinding all the way back to the 2014/15 that Australia won, Hazlewood and Starc played three and two Tests respectively, while Starc made a one-Test cameo appearance all the way back in 2011/12 — a match where he dismissed both Sachin Tendulkar and Gautam Gambhir.

The emphasis here is that this pace attack has a hell of a lot of experience against India, both individually and as a collective.

Barring any freak acts of longevity, this will be their last chance to defeat them on their home soil as a trio and, quite frankly, they deserve to tick it off on their ever-long list of accomplishments as a cartel.

The time to strike is now.

Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma are as vulnerable as they ever have been on Australian shores, while the international inexperience of their other main bats is evident on paper; despite their undeniable talent.

It’s also important to note that while the Australian trio have been able to do the fast bowling hard yards themselves in the past two series, the extra match makes that job the extra bit more difficult.

Thankfully for the hosts though, Scott Boland and Michael Neser (pending fitness) are waiting patiently in the wings, like they have done so often over the last half a decade, for an opportunity if — but most likely when, required.

Like always, the collective group of pace bowlers will back themselves in to get the job done, like they so often have. But with history against them the last two outings on home soil, will it be third time lucky?

SMITH v KOHLI’S FINAL RED-BALL DUEL

It’s been the battle that has divided Australian and Indian fans for well over a decade —who is the better Test batter?

Stats will certainly say it’s Smith, but Kohli has long performed well in Australian conditions — averaging 47.48 with eight hundreds across the 25 Tests he’s played here.

Let it be known — the former Indian captain is well and truly out of form.

The 36-year-old barely averages 30 on his home soil since the turn of the decade, and averages just 22.72 in 2024 from six Test matches.

His long-time rival Smith has also faced a decline in form, although that has only come in the last 24 months, and is nowhere near as severe.

Smith averages 39.38 across the years 2023 and 2024, with four of those games this year coming as an opener.

The 35-year-old will revert back to his traditional position of number four this summer, in the hope he can find his dazzling touch against India like he has so often done.

Averaging a whopping 82.47 against them in Australia, it would be unprecedented to not see Smith scoring bulk runs this summer.

All that being said of both Kohli and Smith, this could well be the last time we see the pair face off in red-ball cricket with both superstars in the twilight years of their careers.

With their legacies on the line in many regards, each has a plethora to play for this summer — and in a more extreme world, this could define how they are remembered until the end of time.

HOW DO INDIA’S INEXPERIENCED TOP-ORDER FARE?

For the casual cricket fan — and perhaps some more advanced — there will be some unfamiliar faces in India’s XI for the First Test in Perth on November 22.

Coming off a diabolical 3-nil loss at home to New Zealand, India’s youngsters have plenty to prove; namely the fact that they are the right players to succeed the likes of Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma, as well as the likes of Cheteshwar Pujara and Ajinkya Rahane, who haven’t played Test cricket in 2024 (but are yet to officially announce their retirements at age 36).

Yashasvi Jaiswal is touted as the most exciting of India’s touring party to take on Australia this summer — and scarily — he’s only 22.

A left-handed opening bat, Jaiswal’s Test career has gotten off to a remarkable start, averaging a tick a tick over 56 with three hundreds — two of which are double hundreds, with the third being a lazy 171.

It goes without saying that he’s the tourists wildcard this summer, but he’s also their youngest, and will need to find his feet quickly against right-arm quicks Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood bowling across his body; an area where they have had so much success.

Opening with Jaiswal in the first Test, will be one of KL Rahul or Abhimanyu Easwaran — who played against Australia A earlier this month in a bid to pip Rahul for the top job; albeit with minimal output, failing to score above 17 across the four innings.

At 29 years of age, Easwaran is yet to debut for India — but holds an impressive average a tick under 49 in first-class cricket, and importantly, out of a big sample size of 101 matches.

However, his Australia A form suggests KL Rahul may be looked upon more favourably — despite Rahul himself only making 0 and 12 himself in his sole match against Australia A.

And then there’s Shubman Gill, who had a successful debut tour of Australia back in 2020/21 — hitting 259 runs in three matches with two fifties, and is certainly the best-placed of the top three heading into the first Test.

While Gill is soundly in form, India’s opening combination looks set to be either a mix of youth and inexperience, or youth and a lack of form.

THE ARRIVAL OF MCSWEENEY

It’s been the overwhelming topic of conversation this spring, but Australian selectors have officially landed on Nathan McSweeney as David Warner (and Steve Smith’s) replacement at the top of the order.

So much has been made of the decision, but when you take a step back and keep your glass half-full — it’s a move that could pay massive dividends in more ways than one.

The now all-but-retired Will Pucovski and injured Cameron Green are the only players to bring an element of genuine youth into Australia’s batting line-up this decade, so McSweeney’s selection is absolutely something to be excited about; regardless if you feel the likes of Marcus Harris or Cameron Bancroft were unlucky to not be selected in the last 12 months.

Beyond the well-deserved niceties though, is business.

The challenge at hand for South Australia’s domestic captain is large — there may be no Mohammed Shami, but there is Jasprit Bumrah with a new ball in hand; and to a lesser extent, Mohammed Siraj.

The absolute best in the world struggle against Bumrah, even after years of playing against him in both red and white-ball cricket — so it’s undoubtedly a baptism of fire for McSweeney.

No one mimics Bumrah’s unique action in international cricket; let alone Australian domestic circles, which will be a challenge in itself to pick the ball out of his hand early.

That being said, McSweeney has been exposed to world-class bowling from a young age — and players who now just so happen to be his new teammates.

He can pull, he can drive, and he is no doubt compact in defence.

Hopefully, the answer on Australia’s new long-term opener comes with few questions this Test series; and if McSweeney can see out this summer, three Australian selectors and the Queensland-born prodigy deserve kudos.

WE CAN’T WRITE OFF GREATNESS

Having dominated all three formats for over a decade now, captain Rohit Sharma and veteran Virat Kohli are unquestionably out of form — and reportedly, they could also be staring down the barrel of their final Test series ever; such is the external pressure back home in India.

Sharma in particular is grossly out of form heading into his side’s tour of Australia, averaging a measly 13.3 with the bat in his last 10 red-ball innings.

India head coach Gautam Gambhir is far from putting a line through the duo, noting that they both have much more to give — and achieve — heading into this summer’s Border-Gavaskar Trophy and beyond.

“I’ve got no concerns whatsoever for Virat and Rohit; I think they are incredibly tough men … and they will continue to achieve a lot in (the) future as well,” a stern Gambhir told Indian reporters.

“The most important thing (for me) is they still work really hard, and they’re still passionate — they still want to achieve a lot more.”

And Australian cricketing modern day legend Michael Hussey is of a similar belief to his once-rival Gambhir, noting that the pair are “champions” — a calibre of player you can never write off.

“The silliest thing you can do is write off champion players … they come under a bit of criticism, and come out and perform really well,” Hussey told Fox Sports News.

“I’m backing those guys in particular to perform really strongly in Australia.”

Sharma’s record in Australia isn’t overly compelling in seven Tests, with an average of 31.38 — so in some ways he may not just be playing for his career, but also his last shot at a defining impression on Australian soil.

FIXTURES

1st Test, 22-26 November: Australia vs India — Optus Stadium, Perth (1:20pm AEDT)

2nd Test, 6-10 December: Australia vs India — Adelaide Oval, Adelaide (3pm AEDT)

3rd Test, 14-18 December: Australia vs India — The Gabba, Brisbane (11:20pm AEDT)

4th Test, 26-30 December: Australia vs India — MCG, Melbourne (10:30am AEDT)

5th Test, 3-7 January: Australia vs India — SCG, Sydney (10:30am AEDT)

HOW TO WATCH

All five games will be broadcast LIVE to Foxtel and Kayo on Australia’s only dedicated 24/7 cricket channel FOX CRICKET.

Catch all the international action every Australian summer on Foxtel.

Watch every game of the Australia vs India Test series live and ad-break free on Australia’s only dedicated 24/7 cricket channel with the best commentary team Australia has to offer.

SQUADS

Australia squad (for First Test): Pat Cummins (c), Scott Boland, Alex Carey (wk), Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Nathan Lyon, Mitch Marsh, Nathan McSweeney, Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc

India squad: Rohit Sharma (c), Jasprit Bumrah (vc), Yashasvi Jaiswal, Abhimanyu Easwaran, Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, KL Rahul, Rishabh Pant (wk), Sarfaraz Khan, Dhruv Jurel, Ravichandran Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, Mohammed Siraj, Akash Deep, Prasidh Krishna, Harshit Rana, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Washington Sundar

Reserves: Mukesh Kumar, Navdeep Saini, Khaleel Ahmed