Australia’s Test series against India has two ingredients promising a brilliant contest: a home side that hasn’t won the Border-Gavaskar Trophy in a decade, and a visiting side reeling from a humiliating home 3-0 series loss to New Zealand.

Few would have forgotten India’s series victory in Australia in 2020-21, when they were skittled for just 36 in their second innings of the first Test, only to win the second and fourth matches to retain the title.

In fact, India has won the past four series between the two countries, including two in Australia.

But things are different this time around – firstly it’s five Tests, not four, and India’s cricketing titans are not at the top of their game.

Rohit Sharma, the captain, will miss the opening Test for the birth of his child, while Virat Kohli has made just two centuries since 2019.

Australia is also in transition. Nathan McSweeney will make his debut at the top of the order and will be the only player under 30 in the side.

Both sides boast fearsome pace attacks, which will be unleashed on the bouncy Perth Stadium.

How will the pitch fare?

Australia have never lost a Test at Perth Stadium in four outings, but there has been some uncharacteristic wet weather for the city in the lead-up to the match. 

Questions remain on how the pitch will play over the next few days, with a day of rain in Perth on Tuesday and the chance of more showers in the lead-up to the match.

“There will be some deterioration [in the pitch], grass will stand up during the game and offer that variable bounce,” WA head curator Isaac McDonald said.

Australian batsman Travis Head says he expects the pitch to offer some challenges due to the pace it offers.

“[The pitch] has been tough,” he said.

History lessons

Off-spinner Nathan Lyon is looking forward to getting out onto what has been a happy hunting ground for him, taking 27 wickets in his four matches at the venue.

The ground also holds good memories for Indian star Virat Kohli, who made his mark in Perth by scoring an impressive 123 back in 2018, his only appearance at the ground.

Kohli’s recent form in Tests has been raising concerns, however, with only one century from his past 18 innings.

Another highlight will be the return to Australia of Indian wicket-keeper Rishabh Pant after a serious car accident kept him out of Test cricket for almost two years.

Pant played a vital role in the 2021 series victory where he scored an unbeaten 89 in the final innings at the Gabba, delivering the final blow as Australia suffered their first Test defeat at the the ground since 1988.

With India’s usual openers, Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill, out due to personal reasons and injury respectively, and Australia fielding a debutant, how the batting line-ups will fare is one of the more interesting questions heading into game one.

Approximately 100,000 attendees are expected for the series opener.