India told to address first-innings woes with the bat

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India told to address first-innings woes with the bat

India’s batters have been told they must fix their first-innings woes and find a way to go big against Australia in Brisbane, after a horror recent run in Tests over the past three months.

The tourists would not reveal their team for the Gabba Test on Friday, with mystery still surrounding their bowling attack and whether captain Rohit Sharma will open.

Locked at 1-1, India arrive at the Gabba with good memories after their heroics at the venue four summers ago allowed them to keep the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.

But they are also well aware they must overturn a damning run with the bat that extends back to their two-Test series against Bangladesh in September.

While much of the focus has been on Australia’s faltering top order, India have had their own issues in recent months in their first innings of Tests.

In seven Tests this season, India’s top seven batters have recorded no centuries and 10 ducks in their team’s first innings.

The only three-figure score from an Indian player in a first innings has come from Ravichandran Ashwin batting at No.8 against Bangladesh.

Together, the group have also only posted seven scores above 50, with the top seven averaging 22.

Virat Kohli also has only one first-innings score above 10 in the Tests against Bangladesh, New Zealand and Australia, while Rohit has not reached 25.

“As a team and as a batting group we are looking to post a big total first-up,” top-order batter Shubman Gill said.

“This has been one of the key discussions. Every batter is going to have his own game plan.

“As a batting group, collectively, we are going to try and get a big first-innings score. That is what the discussion has been about.”

Gill has been India’s most consistent performer with the bat over that time, and made scores of 31 and 28 on return from a broken thumb in Adelaide last week.

He made his debut on India’s last tour of Australia, hitting a crucial 91 in the Gabba Test to help his side stun the hosts and claim an upset series victory.

“Definitely (felt) very nostalgic when I came here,” Gill said.

“The conditions are definitely challenging (in Australia), but there is a ******* from between 30 or 35 overs to the new ball where it gets a little easier to bat.

“It’s about mental intensity. The pitches are fast.

“You have to be right there on the mental fitness, and play at the same intensity at which you came to the crease at the start.”

The tourists have several decisions to make for Brisbane as they push to claim a 2-1 series lead.

Pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah looks likely to play, after overcoming a groin ******* and training this week.

But selectors must decide whether to keep Harshit Rana as the third quick alongside Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj, or bring in Akash Deep.

A call must also be made on whether to stick with Ashwin as the spinner, or play Ravindra Jadeja or Washington Sundar in his place.

Out-of-sorts captain Rohit also appears some chance of opening after facing the new ball in training this week, in a move that would see KL Rahul move down the order.

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