Australia may throw Maxwell into the equation

Former Test quick Jason Gillespie says Australia would be tempted to recall Glenn Maxwell for the second Test against India, despite a victory in Pune that he says is one of their best ever overseas, if not the greatest in their history. 

Less than a week ago, Australia were given next to no chance of toppling the world number one side, who hadn’t lost a Test match at home since 2012. 

But after a jaw-dropping three days in Pune, the tourists head to Bengaluru with a 1-0 series lead and genuine hope of claiming just their second series triumph in India in almost five decades. 

While the Aussies would be loath to change a winning side, Gillespie says Maxwell’s ability to take the game on in Indian conditions could bring him into contention for his first Test since 2014, probably at the expense of fellow allrounder Mitchell Marsh. 

But Gillespie added Marsh’s pace-bowling, which wasn’t used in Pune due to the dominance of Australia’s spinners, will be required on a Bengaluru surface that is expected to be flatter than the minefield in Pune. “I think it’d be unlikely (they’d make any changes),” Gillespie told EON Sports. 

“I think the only guy under pressure to keep his spot will be Mitchell Marsh, who didn’t bowl in the Test and is the back-up for the seamers. I think Mitch will stay in; he made 31 in the second innings in a low-scoring game so he’s probably done enough, just, to hang on. But if they feel they can get away with two seamers, I’d be tempted to potentially play someone like Maxwell. He’s a fine player of spin (and) I think he’s an underrated long-form player.”

“The reason I say that is he judges length very quickly and that’s the key to batting. And I think on these surfaces he could be quite fearless and take the attack to the Indian spinners. And I think he could do a decent job. But I’d envisage in Bangalore, they’d need the back-up seam option. The wicket won’t be as bad as it was in Pune so I think Mitch’s bowling will be the real key.”