There has been major intrigue in the India camp all week with conjecture of a team divided and captain Rohit Sharma about to a) “rest” himself for the Test, b) fall on his sword and resign and/ or retire, c) be axed by selectors for the fifth Test, or d) be retained at the behest of higher powers at the BCCI.
Amidst all the action and emotion it’s easy to forget that Sharma missed the first Test in Perth, where Jasprit Bumrah led India to a magnificent win and a 1-0 series lead. Since the 37-year-old Sharma’s arrival, India have looked unbalanced and the once imperious strokeplay of the skipper has been MIA, with scores of 3, 6, 10, 3 and 9.
The plot thickened yesterday when Sharma didn’t show up to the official press conference and India coach Gautam Gambhir did the duties. Gambhir was spotted in long discussions with Bumrah later that day as rumours heated up that Sharma was out. Nor did Sharma field in slips at India’s training session on the SCG yesterday.
Given it’s the first Test of a new year, the Australia and India squads were hosted by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese at Kirribilli House on the first day of 2025.
The weather? It isn’t raining in Sydney although a heavy dew fell overnight and skies are currently grey. There is a slight chance (20%, I’m told) of an early shower but the latest news from the Bureau is that Day One will likely be uninterrupted: a 26C day with light winds of 15-20kph. For the first three days at least, the forecast is all clear.
Given Sydney’s fickle meteorology – 26 days have been washed out at SCG Tests compared with nine for MCG Tests – that’s a great result. Days four and five look dicier, with a typically tempestuous mix of high heat, rain bombs and lightning. But hey, let’s live for the day and worry about that if/ when it happens.
Australia and India have been battling it out on the cricket field since 1947 when Don Bradman (715 runs at 178.75) and Ray Lindwall (18 wickets at 16.88) led Australia to a 4-0 victory.
Over 111 Tests, Australia have won 47, India 33 with 30 draws and one tie. India’s series victories in Australia in 2018-19 and 2020-21 shifted the balance of power but Australia’s famous victory at the MCG may signal a new era of dominance.
Regardless of how the next five days play out, both proud nations can set aside their rivalry and declare the cliche as rolled gold truth: Test cricket has been the big winner.
Preamble
Angus Fontaine
G’day cricket fans and welcome to the Sydney Cricket Ground for the Guardian’s over-by-over coverage of the fifth Test between Australia and India. Angus Fontaine here with you for the opening salvos before James Wallace steers you home.
After their thrilling victory in Melbourne – a Test witnessed by the largest cricket crowd in Australian history – Pat Cummins’ men lead the series 2-1 and now need only a draw to get their hands on the Border-Gavaskar Trophy for the first time since 2014-15. For India, only an SCG victory can secure the Trophy for a fifth consecutive time.
This 2024-25 series was billed as cricket’s heavyweight title fight and that hype has borne out. Both sides have thrown incredible punches, looking for the knockout blow. India won the opening round, with a commanding 295-run win in Perth. Australia hit back in Adelaide, triumphing by 10 wickets. The third Test at a rainy Gabba was drawn before Australia broke the deadlock in that fourth Test thriller at the MCG.
All four Tests have delivered extraordinary cricket, feats of individual brilliance and moments of high drama. Sydney should be no different. Both squads enter with new-look lineups. Australia has dropped the misfiring Mitchell Marsh and Tasmanian allrounder Beau Webster will make his Test debut. And sensationally, India will reportedly enter this final Test without their captain Rohit Sharma!
Play is scheduled to start at 10.30am AEST and we’ll have final teams and the coin toss shortly. Brew yourselves a cuppa and get some fuel on board. Today is gonna be BIG.
