Border-Gavaskar Trophy: Everything you need to know about the players ahead of Perth Test

The West Australian reporter Aaron Kirby looks at Australia and India’s predicted XIs for the opening Test of the Border-Gavaskar series and gives you everything you need to know about each player. Australia Usman Khawaja Age: 37 Role: Left-hand opener Test Record: 73 matches, 5451 runs at 45.80 with 15 centuries The reinvented veteran has been one of Australia’s best and most consistent batters across the last three years and will be expected to blunt the new ball. His ability to bat time is crucial for Australia’s middle-order, allowing them to play free-flowing games against an older ball. Nathan McSweeney Age: 25 Role: Right-hand opener Test Record: On debut McSweeney has earned a Test debut after winning Australia’s ‘bat off’ through the A series. The South Australian skipper boasts a traditional technique that allows him to occupy the crease while scoring with a strike rate between 40 and 50. Marnus Labushagne Age: 30 Role: Right-hand first drop batter Test Record: 50 matches, 4114 runs at 49.56 with 11 centuries The quirky Queenslander has been one of Australia’s most important bats since becoming a regular with a fantastic ability to fill his boots when he gets in. However, he has had a run of lean home summers and will be hoping to make a fast start on one of his favourite decks in Perth, where he averages more than 100. Steve Smith Age: 35 Role: Right-hand middle-order run machine Test Record: 109 matches, 9685 runs at 56.97 with 32 centuries Smith is reaching the twilight of his career and has shifted back down to No.4 after an experiment opening. He is one of the world’s leading batters and is due for a big summer. Travis Head Age: 30 Role: Left-hand Middle-order run blitzer Test Record: 49 matches, 3173 runs at 41.75 with seven centuries The South Australian has become one of the game’s most damaging batters, capable of taking down any bowler for quick runs. He took last year’s World Test Championship final away from India and will play the same role this summer. Mitch Marsh Age: 33 Role: Right-hand all-rounder Test Record: 42 matches, 2010 runs at 30.45 with three centuries Don’t be fooled by Mitch Marsh’s numbers; the West Australian has been a man on a mission since returning to the Test team in the 2023 Ashes. He is now the middle-order enforcer who, alongside Head, can take the game away from India while also having the technique to rescue Australia from collapses. Alex Carey Age: 33 Role: Left-hand wicketkeeper batter Test Record: 32 matches, 1339 runs at 31.88 with one century Alex Carey has been the No.1 keeper for a number of seasons now but has been in the spotlight for a lack of runs. However, he comes into this series at his aggressive best, having averaged 90 across six Sheffield Shield innings. Pat Cummins Age: 31 Role: Captain and game-changing bowler Test Record: 62 matches, 269 wickets at 22.53 with 12 five-wicket hauls The Australian skipper is one of the world’s best bowlers and has a knack for picking up the key wickets. He will be the key to breaking partnerships and stopping India’s batters getting momentum. Mitchell Starc Age: 34 Role: Lethal left-arm opening bowler Test Record: 89 matches, 358 wickets at 27.74 with 14 five-wicket hauls The whippy left-armer is in ominous form and will be a handful with the new ball. He will likely take the first ball of the series and be the key to knocking over the tourist’s top order. Nathan Lyon Age: 37 Role: Star spin bowler Test Record: 129 matches, 530 wickets at 30.28 with 24 five-wicket hauls Labelled Australia’s greatest finger-spinner of all time, the GOAT will be Australia’s bowling lynchpin. The offie can peel off a high volume of overs while keeping runs down and being attacking. Josh Hazlewood Age: 33 Role: Incredibly accurate right-hand bowler Test Record: 70 matches, 273 wickets at 24.84 with 12 five-wicket hauls Josh Hazlewood is often compared to the great Glenn Mcgrath for his persistence accuracy outside off stump. He also has a fantastic record against megastar Virat Kohli and will often be brought on against him. India KL Rahul Age: 32 Role: Right-hand Opening batter Test Record: 53 matches, 2981 runs at 33.87 with eight centuries With Rohit Sharma in India for at least the first Test, KL Rahul has been sent up to open. he can bat anywhere from one to six and likes to score freely with attacking stroke play. Yashasvi Jaiswal Age: 22 Role: Pace-setting, aggressive right-hand opener Test Record: 14 matches, 1407 runs at 56.28 with three centuries The young opener has taken India cricket by storm with a combination of height, strength and aggression. He has been fantastic in India, but question marks surround his ability to score outside of the subcontinent. Devdutt Padikkal Age: 24 Role: First-drop batter Test Record: One match, 65 runs at 65 Padikkal will be an unknown for Australia having played just one Test against England earlier this year. However, he has put together a solid first-class career averaging 42.29 and has a technique selectors believe will hold up in Australia. Virat Kohli Age: 36 Role: Star right-hand middle-order run machine Test Record: 118 matches, 9040 runs at 47.83 with 29 centuries Kohli is the heart and soul of India’s batting lineup, and the team will ride his fortune. He comes into the series under intense pressure, having struggled for runs, but loves batting in Australia with an average of 54. Rishabh Pant Age: 27 Role: Aggressive left-hand wicketkeeper batter Test Record: 38 matches, 2693 runs at 44.14 with six centuries The incredibly talented keeper is one of the stories of the series after resurrecting his career in the wake of a devasting car crash. He had his knee reconstructed and he is now making up for lost time attacking and plundering bowling attacks with pure aggression. Dhruv Jurel Age: 23 Role: Right-hand middle-order batter Test Record: Three matches, 190 runs at 63.33 Jurel is a talented keeper stuck in the shadow of Pant. However, he was given a chance against England in February and showed promise with a good technique and ability to score on wearing pitches. Ravi Jadeja Age: 35 Role: Spin bowling all-rounder Test Record: 77 matches, 3235 runs at 35.16 with four centuries, 319 wickets at 23.76 with 15 five-wicket hauls Ravi Jadeja is arguably the most dangerous player in India’s squad, capable of taking over a match with bat and ball. He has a fantastic bowling record against Australia, and if he gets runs on the board early, he will be a nightmare all summer. Ravi Ashwin Age: 38 Role: Champion off-spin bowler Test Record: 105 matches, 536 wickets at 23.95 with 37 five-wicket hauls Ravi Ashwin is India’s version of Nathan Lyon. The aging superstar has had his struggles in Australia, but he always gives 100 per cent, and he will test the left-armers. Jasprit Bumrah Age: 30 Role: Star opening fast-bowling Test Record: 40 matches, 173 wickets at 20.57 with 10 five-wicket hauls India’s near-unplayable opening bowler has revolutionised fast bowling in India. His quirky action is inspiring generations of young cricketers and his wicket-taking prowess is as good as anyones. Mohammed Siraj Age: 30 Role: Right-arm opening bowler Test Record: 31 matches, 80 wickets at 30.63 with three five-wicket hauls The opening bowler has come on in leaps and bounds since making his debut and has done well to take wickets in India with swing. He will be excited to be back in Australia and will enjoy the bounce and seam. Akash Deep Age: 27 Role: Test Record: Five matches, 10 wickets at 25.80 Akash Deep has flourished since Mohammad Shami’s injury and his success comes from hard work. He gets a bit of swing and seam and loves using an around-the-wicket angle to left-armers.