John Buchanan, the former coach of the Australian cricket team, has made significant observations regarding India's upcoming Test series against Australia, emphasising the crucial role of the Indian batting lineup in determining the series' outcome. With the series commencing on November 22 at the WACA in Perth, Buchanan noted that the performance of seasoned players such as Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli will be pivotal in countering Australia's threatening pace attack.
Buchanan highlighted that this series marks India's opportunity to achieve a historic third successive Test series triumph in Australia, a feat not accomplished since the 1991-92 season, when five matches were set to be played. Despite India's previous success in the last two tours, he expressed that the psychological advantage might not extend to the current players, as key contributors like Cheteshwar Pujara and Ajinkya Rahane are likely absent from the upcoming squad.
The former coach underlined the importance of India’s top order, consisting of players like Yashasvi Jaiswal, in setting competitive totals. Buchanan also recognised the potential strain on both teams' ageing players and noted that a successful strategy for India would be to bat long, reminiscent of Pujara's efforts in the previous series that exhausted the Australian bowlers.
Buchanan further commented on Australia’s robust bowling lineup, composed of faces like Pat Cummins and Mitchell Starc, which presents a significant challenge for the visiting side. He remarked that while Australia might be the favourites, the lack of extensive preparation time could hinder India’s performance. The team has only scheduled a two-day match against the Prime Minister's XI, a brief window to adapt to the conditions before facing Australia's formidable attack.
Finally, he shared thoughts on Steve Smith's batting position, advising against moving him to open, considering his success batting at No. 4.
Overall, Buchanan's insights reflect the high stakes of the upcoming series and underscore the need for a strong batting performance from India to navigate the challenges posed by Australia in their home conditions.