Cricket set for a sombre summer

This stage of the year is usually one of great excitement for Australian cricketers.

For the 11 men lucky enough to represent their nation, there should be the unique brand of nervous tension created by a home Test series.

Invariably some will be out of form, others will be in the form of their life.

For the million that play the game in Australia, there would ordinarily be debate over selections and series predictions.

Anticipation builds before the first ball of the opening Test because anything is possible - all the more so when David Warner or Mitchell Johnson is charged with firing the opening salvo.

But this year Phillip Hughes’ desperately unlucky death has cast a pall over proceedings.

Ever since Hughes was struck by a Sean Abbott bouncer in a Sheffield Shield match at the SCG on November 25, this summer was always going to be different to any other.

The constant reminder of that fact has been the grief etched on the face of Michael Clarke.

It was there when Clarke delivered a statement on behalf of Hughes’ family at St Vincent’s hospital after the 25-year-old’s life support was switched off.

It was there when the captain fronted the press two days later at the SCG, this time speaking on behalf of the national team and its support staff.

“Our dressing room will never be the same,” he said, wiping away tears.

It was there during Clarke’s eulogy at the funeral, saying his close friend’s spirit “will act as a custodian of the sport we all love”.

It was there when Clarke was one of eight pallbearers that carried Hughes’ coffin out of Macksville High School hall.

And it will be there on Tuesday, when the rescheduled first Test against India starts at Hughes’ adopted homeground Adelaide Oval instead of the Gabba.

Clarke, recovering from a third hamstring since August, must prove his fitness to take the field in Adelaide.

But even if he is unable to do so, the 33-year-old will continue to be a rock for shellshocked teammates still in disbelief over Hughes’ fate.

Clarke’s teammates are also in differing degrees of doubt.

Not because of physical niggles, rather the mental anguish.

Brad Haddin, David Warner, Nathan Lyon, Shane Watson were all in the field for NSW when Hughes was felled.

The entire squad is devastated.

“Any player that is not comfortable or doesn’t feel right, or there is medical advice to suggest that they’re not quite right, then we will obviously understand that,” Cricket Australia boss James Sutherland said of potential withdrawals.

“I’m sure the broader public will understand that as well.”

It will be a confronting occasion for everyone at Adelaide Oval, with no sense of normality as India bids for a first Test series win in Australia.

Will Johnson bang it in short with the same venom and regularity he did a year ago, terrorising England’s batsmen in a 5-0 Ashes sweep?

If he does, will the crowd cheer the chin music? Even if Virat Kohli or one of his teammates is struck amid the crescendo?

Will appeals be as voracious as usual? Will wickets be celebrated?

Will the hosts sledge Kohli in the same fashion they did in 2012, when he struck a maiden Test century in Adelaide?

And how the hell will 11 Australians get through the toughest Test of their careers?

As always, there is a sense of the unknown before the series begins.

Sadly it is now because of incomparably more grievous reasons.

It will be an incredibly sombre occasion, but also a celebration of Hughes’ life.

AUSTRALIA SQUAD

CHRIS ROGERS
Age: 37
Tests: 16
Playing role: Left-handed batsman
Test batting average: 36.06
Failed to fire in the recent UAE tour, but scored a first-class century at Adelaide Oval last month. Rogers’ yin-and-yang opening partnership with David Warner looks set to continue until next year’s Ashes series in England.

DAVID WARNER
Age: 28
Tests: 32
Playing role: Left-handed batsman
Test batting average: 47.47
Lifted his game to another level over the past year. Warner was the leading run-scorer in series wins over England and South Africa, and the only Australian to post a Test century in the recent series against Pakistan. Capable of taking the game away from India in one session.

SHANE WATSON
Age: 33
Tests: 52
Playing role: Allrounder, right-handed
Test batting average: 36.25
Test bowling average: 31.95
Expected to return to No.3 in the batting order, where he has been the most successful of the 11 men used at first drop since Ricky Ponting’s demotion. Likely to bowl fewer overs with Mitch Marsh in the team.

MICHAEL CLARKE (capt)
Age: 33
Tests: 107
Playing role: Right-handed batsman
Test batting average: 50.59
Clarke’s leadership has been incredible over the past week, supporting fellow cricketers and Phillip Hughes’ family following the death of his close friend. The skipper’s recurring hamstring injury remains a concern, but he will be desperate to guide grief-stricken teammates through an emotional Test.

STEVE SMITH
Age: 25
Tests: 22
Playing role: Right-handed batsman
Test batting average: 40.39
Touted as a future captain and it hasn’t been hard to see why over the past year. Consolidated place in the side by taking his time at the crease, premeditating fewer shots and building bigger scores. Handy legbreaks capable of breaking stubborn partnerships.

MITCH MARSH
Age: 23
Tests: 2
Playing role: Allrounder, right-handed
Test batting average: 41.00
A composed 87 was the highlight of an impressive maiden Test tour, when he outperformed more-seasoned teammates with the bat against Pakistan. A strong summer will make Marsh a mainstay of the Test side.

BRAD HADDIN
Age: 37
Tests: 59
Playing role: Wicketkeeper/right-handed batsman
Test batting average: 34.20
Overcame a shoulder injury to take his place in the squad and will captain Australia if Clarke is not passed fit. Potentially Haddin’s last summer with the gloves, although people were saying the same thing before he averaged 61.62 in the 5-0 Ashes thumping of England.

MITCHELL JOHNSON
Age: 33
Tests: 61
Playing role: Left-arm fast
Test bowling average: 27.47
Crowned ICC cricketer of the year after firing Australia to Test series wins over England and South Africa. Johnson claimed a brilliant 37 wickets at 13.97 in the 2013-14 Ashes. India’s batsmen have limited experience against the left-armer, as he missed their most recent Australian tour in 2012 due to injury.

RYAN HARRIS
Age: 35
Tests: 24
Playing role: Right-arm fast
Test bowling average: 22.56
Inspired Australia to a last-gasp victory in their Test series decider against South Africa in March. Underwent major knee surgery upon return from Cape Town, but returned to first-class cricket last month and will be a handful with the new ball.

PETER SIDDLE
Age: 30
Tests: 55
Playing role: Right-arm fast medium
Test bowling average: 30.20
Was dropped in South Africa earlier this year and will come under pressure from Josh Hazlewood this month. Made a memorable debut against India in 2008, hitting Gautam Gambhir in the head with his first ball and removing Sachin Tendulkar to snaffle his maiden Test wicket.

NATHAN LYON
Age: 27
Tests: 35
Playing role: Right-arm offbreak
Test bowling average: 35.80
Lyon struggled in the UAE, capturing three Test wickets at an average of 140. Should benefit from the extra bounce on offer in Australia, when he confronts some masterful players of spin. Will take confidence from dismissing VVS Laxman, Virender Sehwag and Sachin Tendulkar when India last played a Test in Adelaide.

JOSH HAZLEWOOD
Age: 23
Tests: 0
Playing role: Right-arm fast-medium
Test bowling average: N/A
Hazlewood will almost certainly be presented with a baggy green at some point this series. A handful of serious injuries have hampered his progress since making a one-day international debut at age 19, but the Tamworth product is fit and impressing selectors.

SHAUN MARSH
Age: 31
Tests: 9
Playing role: Left-handed batsman
Test batting average: 32.86
The hot-and-cold career of Marsh will continue if Clarke is sidelined by his hamstring woes. Scored a magnificent century in Centurion against South Africa earlier this year, but followed it with a pair and was dropped for the series decider in Cape Town.

INDIA SQUAD

MURALI VIJAY
Age: 30
Tests: 27
Playing role: Right-handed batsman
Test batting average: 36.29
Earned a Test recall during Australia’s tour of India last year and made the most of it, scoring 167 in Hyderabad and 153 in Mohali amid the 4-0 thumping. Has looked comfortable at the crease in India’s two tour games.

SHIKHAR DHAWAN
Age: 29
Tests: 10
Playing role: Left-handed batsman
Test batting average: 38.58
Capable of turning a match on its head, not unlike David Warner. Warner was actually dropped down the Hyderabad batting order so Dhawan could open when the two played for the same IPL team this year.

CHETESHWAR PUJARA
Age: 26
Tests: 24
Playing role: Right-handed batsman
Test batting average: 49.26
Happy to bat time in an era when most children in his homeland dream of Indian Premier League glory, instead of relatively turgid Test struggles. Scored 153 against South Africa’s star-studded pace attack at the Wanderers last year and will be one to watch in this series.

VIRAT KOHLI
Age: 26
Tests: 29
Playing role: Right-handed batsman
Test batting average: 39.46
Announced himself as a future captain when India most recently toured. The visitors were trounced 4-0, but Kohli scored his maiden Test century in Adelaide. Does not lack confidence and has already vowed there will be more aggression from India compared to 2012.

AJINKYA RAHANE
Age: 26
Tests: 10
Playing role: Right-handed batsman
Test batting average: 39.88
Earned a one-day international debut in 2011 with a sterling performance in Townsville of all places. Scored a century against an Australian attack featuring Mitchell Starc and Sean Abbott in the Emerging Players tournament, then another ton against South Africa in Brisbane.

ROHIT SHARMA
Age: 27
Tests: 7
Playing role: Right-handed batsman
Test batting average: 48.90
Scored 264 in a one-dayer against Sri Lanka last month. Remember when that was a good team total in 50-over contest? Classy strokeplayer but hasn’t had as much success at Test level yet.

WRIDDHIMAN SAHA
Age: 30
Tests: 2
Playing role: Wicketkeeper/right-handed batsman
Test batting average: 18.50
It’s a hard life being a wicketkeeper in India. Saha has had almost three years in the Test wilderness since playing against Australia in Adelaide. Looks set to be behind the stumps in the first Test, although there are contrasting reports over MS Dhoni’s fitness.

RAVICHANDRAN ASHWIN
Age: 28
Tests: 21
Playing role: Right-arm offbreak
Test bowling average: 28.65
Bamboozled Australian batsmen during last year’s four Tests in India, claiming 29 wickets at an average of 20.10. Recently said a breakthrough Test series win in Australia would be a bigger achievement than winning the World Cup.

VARUN AARON
Age: 25
Tests: 3
Playing role: Right-arm fast
Test bowling average: 47.37
Remains a raw prospect because of a staggering five stress fractures, but was the leading wicket-taker in both of India’s tour games. Pace and bounce are his biggest weapons.

ISHANT SHARMA
Age: 26
Tests: 58
Playing role: Right-arm fast-medium
Test bowling average: 36.75
One of few familiar faces in the squad for most Australian fans, who will remember how the then 19-year-old worked Ricky Ponting over in a sizzling spell at the WACA. Could be squeezed out of India’s attack, but is their only experienced pace-bowling option.

BHUVNESHWAR KUMAR
Age: 24
Tests: 11
Playing role: Right-arm medium
Test bowling average: 30.25
Swing specialist who rattled England earlier this year, snaring 19 scalps at an average of 26.62. Was notably the only Indian bowler to play the entire five-Test series against England.

MOHAMMED SHAMI
Age: 24
Tests: 9
Playing role: Right-arm medium
Test bowling average: 36.31
Yet to play a Test against Australia, but strong form in India’s two tour games suggest he may be given the new ball at Adelaide Oval. Not overly tall for a paceman, but still more than capable of sending down a challenging bouncer.

MS DHONI (capt)
Age: 33
Tests: 88
Playing role: Wicketkeeper/right-handed batsman
Test batting average: 38.46
Dhoni has led his side to the summit in all three forms of the game: the No.1 Test ranking for 18 months, a World Twenty20 win in 2007 and one-day World Cup triumph on home soil in 2011. Likely to miss the first Test, but will be key player if India is to celebrate a breakthrough Test series win in Australia.

RAVINDRA JADEJA
Age: 25
Tests: 12
Playing role: Allrounder, left-handed
Test batting average: 21.41
Test bowling average: 30.37
Dhoni’s likely absence hurts the allrounder’s selection hopes for Adelaide Oval, but the man dubbed ’Rockstar’ by Shane Warne wouldn’t look out of place in their XI. The spinner dismissed Michael Clarke five out of a possible six times during Australia’s miserable tour of India in 2013.