Top-ranked Australia are plotting revenge in their first day-night Test against fellow powerhouse India tomorrow, as both teams grapple with injuries and selection dilemmas.
Virat Kohli’s men clinched their maiden series in Australia in 2018-19, triumphing 2-1, but the hosts were without leading batsmen Steve Smith and David Warner who were serving year-long bans for ball-tampering.
Smith, the world’s number one batsman, is back and in form, although in a massive blow Warner has been ruled out of the opening Test with a groin injury.
“It’s a great rivalry... bring it on,” Australia coach Justin Langer said ahead of day one at Adelaide Oval, where more than 20,000 fans — 50% capacity, due to coronavirus restrictions — are expected.
“We have a very senior team now and can’t wait to get the show on the road.”
Despite losing the last series, Australia head into the four-Test showdown, where the Border-Gavaskar trophy and ICC World Test Championship points are at stake, with an apparent advantage before a ball is bowled.
They are the world’s most successful team in day-night Tests, having played seven and won the lot, including four in Adelaide.
In contrast India, who were long reluctant to embrace the concept, remain novices, playing just one day-night Test in Kolkata last year. 
They thrashed Bangladesh in just over two days, limiting their exposure to twilight conditions where visibility can be an issue and the ball tends to swing as the sun sinks.
India did enjoy a day-night warm-up in Sydney at the weekend, where Shubman Gill (65), Mayank Agarwal (61), Rishabh Pant (103 not out) and Hanuma Vihari (104 not out) all capitalised. India’s two best batsmen, Kohli and Cheteshwar Pujara, sat out the match but Vihari insisted their lack of pink-ball cricket would not hinder them.
“We’ve played a pink-ball Test before, so they’re used to it... I’m sure being the professionals they are, they’ll be very well equipped,” he said, while admitting getting used to day-night cricket was “a challenge”.
“The twilight time when the lights are on, it (the ball) does a little bit in the air and off the wicket.” But Vihari added: “I feel as a team we are very well prepared.”
Warner’s injury is one of a series of setbacks Langer has faced in recent weeks with concussed Will Pucovski, who was set to take his place, also ruled out.
Marcus Harris has been recalled as cover, but who opens remains to be seen.
Incumbent Joe Burns is horribly out of form with Matthew Wade firming as the best option to replace him.
That would open the door for red-hot young all-rounder Cameron Green, who Langer said would definitely play if he recovers from a mild concussion.
“We’ve got tough decisions to make, but tough decisions are good decisions because it means there is competition for spots,” Langer added.
Their all-star bowling attack is set in stone with quicks Josh Hazlewood, Mitchell Starc and Pat Cummins complemented by spinner Nathan Lyon, Australia’s top wicket-taker in the last series.
India won the opening Test at Adelaide in 2018 largely on the back of Pujara, who ground out 123 then 71 to set up a 31-run win.
He again shapes as key, particularly with Rohit Sharma out injured.
Superstar skipper Kohli will want to make his mark in his only Test of the series, before heading home for the birth of his first child.
Ajinkya Rahane, who will assume the captaincy when Kohli leaves, is a lock in the middle order alongside Vihari. 
But their opening combination remains in flux. Prithvi Shaw and Agarwal are the current openers but Gill’s composed 65 under lights gave selectors plenty to ponder.
Like Australia, India have what Sachin Tendulkar last week called “a complete” bowling attack, despite missing the injured Ishant Sharma.
Headlined by Mohamed Shami and Jasprit Bumrah, Umesh Yadav is tipped for the third seamer’s spot with Ravi Ashwin and Kuldeep Yadav competing to be the frontline spinner, with Ravindra Jadeja injured.
After Adelaide, the series moves to Melbourne for the traditional Boxing Day Test, before games in Sydney and Brisbane.


Green to make debut against India if fit, says Langer

All-rounder Cameron Green will make his Test debut against India in the first game of the series in Adelaide if he comes through concussion protocols, Australia coach Justin Langer said yesterday.
The 21-year-old was struck on the head when bowling to Jasprit Bumrah last week in an Australia ‘A’ game and replaced under the sport’s concussion rules.
Green is expected to train with the Australia squad over the next two days and undergo testing for any lingering concussion symptoms ahead of the day-night match, which begins tomorrow.
“If he’s passed fit he’ll definitely play,” Langer told reporters yesterday. “We’re just going through the concussion protocols.
“If Cameron gets through the protocols and he gets through training and he feels good...he’ll make his Test debut, which is very, very exciting for Australian cricket, for him and his family.”
Langer added that the selection of the opening batsmen was proving to be one of the harder decisions he faced ahead of the test, with David Warner and Will Pucovski out injured and Joe Burns out of form.
Langer was still keen on Burns taking the role and he would be watched closely at training over the next two days.
There was no suggestion that Marnus Labuschange would be elevated from his usual number three position, though Matthew Wade could be used as a makeshift opener, Langer added.
“He’s got good footwork. He’s got the game for it,” Langer said of the former wicketkeeper who has been batting in the middle order in the Test side.
“He can counterattack like David Warner does and a lot of the great openers do. He can definitely do it.
“We just have to work out what the best make up of our team is going to be.” 
Meanwhile, Ajinkya Rahane said India will miss experienced paceman Ishant Sharma but their bowling attack is more than capable of taking 20 wickets against the hosts.
The 32-year-old Ishant, who has played 97 Test matches, was a vital cog in India’s 2-1 victory against Australia in their previous trip Down Under in 2018 but has been ruled out of this series due to a side strain.
“We do really have a very strong attack,” Rahane told reporters ahead of the opening day-night test in Adelaide, which starts tomorrow.
“Yes we will definitely miss Ishant, (he) being a senior fast bowler. But guys who are here...they all are really good, experienced and know how to bowl in these conditions. It is all about getting that momentum.
“I do believe that we have the attack to get 20 wickets,” he said, adding that they had yet to finalise their starting 11 for Adelaide.
India’s regular captain Virat Kohli will return home after Adelaide for the birth of his first child, leaving Rahane in charge for the remaining three tests in the series.
The middle-order batsman said he was not looking that far ahead.
“I believe in staying in the moment, staying in present,” he said. “Right now Virat is our captain.”
The pitches in Australia offer more pace and bounce for bowlers and present a different challenge for Indian batsmen, who grow up playing on surfaces offering low bounce and more spin.
Rahane had no concerns about playing short-pitched bowling but said the batsmen would need to adapt to changing conditions during the twilight period in the day-night test.
“Last time when we came here in 2018 the wickets were really challenging... but we adjusted to those wickets really well,” he said.
“As a batting unit we can adapt to any situation, any condition.
I am not too concerned about short balls, it’s all about having a positive mindset as a batsman.”