The Test Updates

Had a merry Christmas? Want it even merrier? Cricket's got covered as the Cover Drive previews 2 big games including Sri Lanka's 2nd Test against the mighty and ruthless South Africa, and the special and annual Boxing Day Test between Australia and India in which these 2 teams need to step up to prove their credentials as one of the threatening sides in the Test world.

2 troubled teams face in the big stage

Probably the biggest date to be in after a Christmas night off and possibly the whole year is here and the big stage is on these teams who are struggling in form.

For Australia, there is a big shake in the team after New Zealand beaten them by 7 runs to give the Kiwis their first win against the Aussies since 1993. The batting was the main downfall for their loss and there was a big shake up with the 27 year old Shaun Marsh and the inclusion of the promising Tazmanian opener Ed Cowan to bolster and strengthen the team. Ricky Ponting and Mike Hussey are kept in the side despite a disappointing show with the bat with single figure scores in the Hobart Test against New Zealand.

There is a lack of show in the bowlers but with Ben Hilfenhaus and some young bowlers like James Pattinson to lead the team in the fast bowling department, it looks good. With the spin option, Nathan Lyon is the only specialist spin bowler that could lead the attack with the part-time spinner Michael Clarke but the main point for the selectors is clearly the batting largely influenced by the Hobart Test.

For India, they have been hoping that Zaheer Khan and Ishant Sharma would recover from their injuries but its made more doubtful since Sharma still might need some surgical work while Zaheer is still yet to reach his peak in his fitness. Umesh Yadav carries the weight on him in terms of the seam attack but Pragyan Ojha and Ravichandran Ashwin have no experience in playing in Australia and there hasn't been any known deterioration of the pitch having some turn or spin. India's batting is better known for its strength with the big explosive opening of Gambhir and Sehwag. Rahul Dravid, VVS Laxman and Sachin Tendulkar bolster the batting with their patient batting display. 

Seeing the Australian bowling attack against these batsmen should be interesting but an early breakthrough for the Aussies and it will take a long time for the Indian batsmen to find their rhythm. Are Australia going to pay for their dropping of the specialist all-rounder like Shane Watson and Dan Christian or will this risk pay off?