Key battles to decide Test series decider
Mar 23, 2017 - 7:00 PM FOUR KEY SHOWDOWNS IN AUSTRALIA'S TEST SERIES DECIDER AGAINST INDIA*Steve Smith v Virat Kohli
Billed as the subplot that could potentially decide the series, Smith has dominated his counterpart in every sense of the word. Australia's skipper has scored a series-high 371 runs, including two tons. Kohli has managed 46 runs, just nine more than Steve O'Keefe. India's captain, if he doesn't miss the match because of a shoulder injury, simply must stand up with the bat.
*David Warner & Matt Renshaw v KL Rahul & Murali Vijay
Warner and Renshaw have passed 50 in three of their five opening stands in the series. Warner, who is the only Australian batsman yet to post a score of substance on the tour, pointed out earlier this week they need to make it 100 to ensure the visitors drive the game. Rahul and Vijay shared a 91-run partnership in the third Test, comfortably their highest ever.
*Pat Cummins v Umesh Yadav
Cummins exceeded expectations in his first Test since a dazzling debut in 2011. The injury-prone express paceman was sent for routine scans after returning in Ranchi, but has been given the all clear to back up. Steve Smith will seek to use him as a strike weapon, especially if the pitch has half as much bounce as what the curator has predicted. Yadav has impressed in the shadow of India's star spinners, collecting 12 wickets at 25, and should be potent on this deck.
*Nathan Lyon v Ravichandran Ashwin
Ashwin looked a decidedly tired bowler in the third Test, collecting two wickets in the match from a total of 64 overs. The ace offspinner has bowled a scarcely-believable 4,209 deliveries during India's marathon home season, the most by an Indian in a season. Lyon, who has studied footage of Ashwin in an effort to tweak his subcontinent approach, grabbed an innings haul of 8-50 in Bangalore but has since been restricted by a cracked callus on his spinning finger.
Source: AAP
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