Preview: Australia vs India 2nd Test Day 2

Ajinkya Rahane will be looking to get his third test century

India will come out to bat at 311/4 at the Gabba for Day 2 of the Second Test between Australia and India.

Murali Vijay batted superbly in conditions he is all too familiar with; Brisbane was as hot as Chennai according to the commentators. This was only proved right by the Australian bowlers visibly suffering from the harsh conditions. Mitchell Marsh will not bowl in this Test anymore. It’s an uphill task for the physio and his team to even get him to bat, according to reports.

What was impressive was how positive the Indian batsman were against Nathan Lyon. This was a much-required change in their mentality after almost making it a habit to gift wickets to right handed off-spinners (exhibit A: Moeen Ali). They clearly identified Lyon and Mitchell Johnson as the ones to not give wickets too. The Indian team knows fully well that you cannot give Johnson a sniff at victory and Lyon proved in the last match that he too is growing up to be the same kind of bowler.

Mitchell Johnson returned with figures of 0/64 in 15 overs. Nathan Lyon’s figures read 1/87 in 20 overs.

In the meanwhile, Ajinkya Rahane(75*) and Rohit Sharma(26*) will be looking to get some vital runs under their belt and thus press home India’s advantage. The first hour might be decisive. Both AJinkya and Rohit will have to re-do all the hard work of getting their eye in today morning.

The weather seems to be a concern not only for Australian bowlers but also the crowd. Thunderstorms are forecast for later.

Already having the cushion of 311 runs and 6 wickets in hand, it will interesting to see if the Indian young guns take it a step further and try and accelerate from the word go in search for quick runs. This could definitely be detrimental to India’s stronghold on the match.

200 runs is what the Indian team should be looking to add before declaring, unless an unforeseen calamitous collapse (like the one in the first Test) takes place.

India have gone in with three seamers, all of whom can bowl consistently above 140 km/h. R Ashwin has the experience and the skill to keep up the pressure and take wickets from one end. So the Indian bowling looks capable of dismissing the Aussies once over, and maybe even twice over!

Mitch Marsh walking laps of the Gabba with Alex Kountouris. Johnson, Starc & Hazlewood in the nets doing some light bowling #AUSvIND

— cricket.com.au (@CricketAus) December 17, 2014

Morning cloud starting to burn off at the Gabba. Top temp of 33 degrees, possible storms this afternoon #AUSvIND pic.twitter.com/GMN7pvyiZU

— cricket.com.au (@CricketAus) December 17, 2014