Ranji Trophy : Australia’s cricket team experienced a crushing defeat in the first test against India, leaving them searching for new solutions for their upcoming matches. The Australians lost by an innings and 132 runs, failing to find answers to the Indian spinners who proved too challenging for them to overcome. Australia’s batters could only manage scores of 177 and 91 in their first and second innings, respectively, while the Indian team put up an impressive 400 runs on the board.
Indian Skipper Rohit Sharma led the way with an outstanding century of 120 runs, and his teammates Ravindra Jadeja and Axar Patel each contributed half-centuries to the scoreline. Even senior spinner Mohammed Shami scored 37 runs off just 47 balls, a feat that only one Australian batter could match across two innings.
After such a deflating loss, Australia will need to look for bowlers who can help provide breakthroughs and turn things around. In this article, we explore the hypothetical scenario of three Ranji Trophy spinners who could feature for Australia’s Test team.
Meet the Three Ranji Trophy Spinners
1. Kartikeya, Left-arm Spinner from Madhya Pradesh (MP) ( Ranji Trophy )
Kartikeya is a young left-arm spinner who has been a crucial player for the MP team over the past few years. He played a pivotal role in helping his team win their maiden Ranji Trophy title last year, finishing as the second-highest wicket-taker with 32 scalps. In the current season, he has picked up 33 wickets in nine matches at an average of just over 20.
One of Kartikeya’s unique strengths is his ability to bowl with the new ball. As Team India has many right-handed batters, Kartikeya would make an excellent addition to the Australian side given his ability to take the ball away.
2. Shams Mulani, Left-arm Spinner from Mumbai ( Ranji Trophy )
Shams Mulani has been one of the most consistent players on the domestic circuit for the past few years. He was the highest wicket-taker in the Ranji Trophy last year, with 45 wickets from six games at an average of 16.75. He has continued his good form in the Ranji Trophy 2022-23, picking up 46 wickets in seven matches, with a best bowling figure of 7/98.
What makes Mulani a great option for Australia is his ability to extract spin and bounce off the wicket, making him an excellent wicket-taking option. Additionally, he is a decent option with the bat, with 12 half-centuries to his name in List A cricket.
3. Shreyas Gopal, Leg-spinner from Karnataka ( Ranji Trophy )
Shreyas Gopal is a versatile cricketer who brings a lot of value to any team he plays for. As a leg-spinner, he has 218 scalps to his name from 76 first-class games, and he also has over 3000 runs as a batsman. He is also an excellent fielder both inside and outside the 30-yard circle.
With Australia lacking quality leg-spinners in their ranks, Gopal could be an incredibly handy addition to the team with the old ball. His all-around abilities make him a valuable asset for any side, and Australia could undoubtedly benefit from his inclusion.
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Conclusion
After suffering such a devastating loss to India in the first test, Australia needs to re-think their approach and make some changes to their team. The addition of these three Ranji Trophy spinners would undoubtedly give them a boost and help them perform better in future games. With the upcoming matches on the horizon, it will be interesting to see how Australia responds to their recent.