India vs Australia 2017: 5 things Australia must do to win in Ranchi

#4 – Play Glenn Maxwell in place of seam all rounder

Maxwell could be a handy cricketer in low-scoring Test matches

Ahead of the Test, Australia have been jolted by the injury to pace spearhead Mitchell Starc. Aside from delivering key breakthroughs out of nowhere, his lusty lower-order hitting can get on the fielding captain’s nerves. With Mitchell Marsh’s shoulder finally giving away, two spots have opened up in the playing eleven.

If the pitch in Ranchi is typically dry, the presence of a seam all rounder could be deemed surplus to the bowling attack. The team management have a couple of options to replace Marsh. Considering Usman Khawaja‘s flawed technique against spin (even by Australian standards), Glenn Maxwell is a more prudent choice.

While Maxwell’s batting does not cut it at Test level on normal surfaces, he could be handy in bowler-friendly conditions with his quick runs expanding the team total. Adding his decent off-spin and solid fielding, the Victorian becomes a horses-for-courses player. With Pat Cummins flying in from down under, Australia seem to have found an able foil for Josh Hazlewood.