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The NRMA Insurance West Test Hill Returns, Setting the Stage for a Blockbuster India Series
A huge summer of cricket kicks off with Australia hosting India at Perth Stadium for the first Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.
For the first time since its inception, the Border-Gavaskar Trophy will be contested over five Tests, making this one of the most anticipated series in years. Both teams are facing major questions: Can India rebound from a surprising 3-0 home series loss to New Zealand? Will Australia claim their first series victory over India in a decade? And how will Australia’s rejigged batting lineup handle India’s formidable bowling attack? All of this will unfold across five thrilling Test matches.
What’s on?
Kicking off the week will be the West Test Summer Fest which will be a lively three-day festival celebrating India’s rich culture. West Test Summer Fest will take place outside Perth Stadium, coinciding with The West Test.
The festival, running from Friday, November 22 to Sunday 24th, will enhance the fan experience for the first three days of the match. It will feature live music and entertainment, food from local Indian community vendors, cricket skill challenges, art displays, and more.
Additionally, ticket holders for The West Test can cross Matagarup Bridge to the WACA Ground, where they’ll enjoy free entry to the Perth Scorchers vs. Hobart Hurricanes Women’s Big Bash League|10 celebration match on Saturday, November 23.
The weekend of festivities adds to a bustling schedule of events in Perth, including the rescheduled WA Day Festival at Burswood Park, the World Supercross Championship at HBF Park, and PrideFEST 2024 in Northbridge.
Series Preview
Both teams enter this series with an air of uncertainty. Australia hasn’t played a Test match since March, while India is reeling from a shock series loss to New Zealand. This raises the stakes considerably, as both teams need a series win to secure their place in the World Test Championship Final.
All the talk of the Australian season has been about who will open the batting for Australia alongside Usman Khawaja? This has finally been settled with Australia A captain Nathan McSweeney getting the nod to make his debut. He joins a mostly familiar lineup, with Steven Smith moving back down to number four in the absence of the injured Cameron Green. With many pundits questioning whether Australia’s aging team can hold up, it will be fascinating to see how the series unfolds.
India’s recent poor results can be attributed to a drop in form from some of their most dependable players. Both Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma struggled; Kohli, without a century this year, has scored just 250 runs at an average of 22.72, while Rohit managed only 91 runs over six innings against New Zealand. Additionally, India’s bowling attack underperformed, with key players like Jasprit Bumrah, Ravi Ashwin, and Mohammed Siraj failing to make the expected impact, which further hampered the team’s performance.
The question beckons, do India stick with the stars that have given them so much success or do they look to the future and shake up the XI that takes the field at Perth Stadium? With a fierce rivalry built up over the past decade, it is bound to be an enthralling summer.
The NRMA Insurance West Test will take place at Perth Stadium from the 22nd to the 26th of November. Tickets can be purchased now via Ticketmaster.com.au.
