Students of history ready for decider

The monumental significance of a possible Test series win in India is not lost on Steve Smith’s charges, according to batsman Peter Handscomb.

Only one Australian team has won a series in India since Bill Lawry’s men triumphed in 1969; that was 13 years ago with a team full of legends including Shane Warne, Glenn McGrath, Adam Gilchrist, Matthew Hayden and debutant Michael Clarke.

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Former Australia captain Steve Waugh called winning in India the final frontier and now the current crop has a chance to conquer Test cricket’s mightiest challenge as they enter the final match in Dharamsala with the series locked at 1-1.

"Yeah, we’re definitely aware of it," Handscomb said of Australia’s Test record in India.

"We know how hard it is to come over here and win the series, but I guess all we are really focusing on is the Test itself and not being too overawed by the significance of it.

Image Id: 74911E9CE57F401B971EA19653B7AAFA Image Caption: Adam Gilchrist and Darren Lehmann celebrate Australia's 2004 series win // Getty

"If we can go out and just go with those same plans that we’ve had in the previous three Tests then hopefully it looks after itself and potentially create our own little bit of history."

The series has reached its finale after Australia stunned India in the first Test in Pune, out-batting, out-bowling and out-fielding the hosts to win by 333-runs.

India bounced back in Bengaluru with a 75-run victory built on the back of a crucial partnership by Ajinkya Rahane and Cheteshwar Pujara in a spicy match overflowing with emotion and controversy.

Up to that point the series had been dominated by the bowlers but the third Test in Ranchi changed that when Pujara, Steve Smith, Wriddhiman Saha and Glenn Maxwell all made centuries in a gritty draw.

The pitches used in the three Tests so have varied from venue to venue; Pune spun prodigiously from ball one and was rated ‘poor’ by the ICC, Bengaluru had inconsistent bounce and gaping cracks and was rated ‘below average’ while Ranchi was a batsman’s paradise.

Australia’s batsmen have matched it with their Indian counterparts despite the volatile foreign conditions, and Handscomb, who made his series-high score of 72no in Ranchi, says that will give the tourists’ batting group the belief they can counter whatever surface is thrown at them.

"It gives the squad a massive amount of confidence, knowing we can go in and assess the pitch as quickly as we can and then play our game from there,” the Victorian said.

"Obviously we did that well in Pune and we’ve had two different types of wickets again in Bangalore and Ranchi so if we can assess the conditions as quickly as possible and go from there I’m sure we’ll be fine."

After winning the toss and electing to bat in the third Test at the JSCA Stadium, Australia put 451 on the board but Handscomb, his captain Smith and deputy David Warner all agreed there were plenty of runs left out in the middle.

India showed what a powerhouse batting unit they possess when they scored 9-603 declared from 210 overs in reply to take a sizeable first-innings lead with the belief that the world’s best bowlers Ravindra Jadeja and Ravichandran Ashwin would spin the home side to victory.

But those plans were foiled by Australia’s resolute batsmen, in particular Handscomb and Shaun Marsh, who combined for 124 runs in just under four hours at the crease together to guide their team to safety.

Australia know a score of 450 won’t be enough if they get the chance to bat first again in Dharamsala, but the second-innings rear-guard in Ranchi proved the visitors have the resilience their captain has demanded.

"I guess after that first innings we were glad that we got 450, but reflecting on the game - and we did speak about it afterwards – we did score 450 but we definitely did have a chance there to score 500-550, potentially 600, and really set the game up for ourselves,” Handscomb said.

"But now that we have had that second innings where we batted so well, we know we can take that belief into the first innings at Dharamsala and go from there and hopefully score big first innings runs."

Last week Smith spoke in Australian Rules parlance about how the tourists viewed the third Test as the defining 'premiership quarter' and, with the final term approaching, Handscomb and his teammates can’t wait to run out onto the paddock and kick with the breeze, so to speak.

"It’s obviously an exciting Test," said Handscomb, who also revealed - surprisingly for a Victorian - that he prefers Manchester United and the round-ball game to the sport so loved in his home state.

"To come into this final Test with scores level and the series still wide open is awesome.

"Already we can walk away from this series with our heads held high, and if we keep performing the way we are in this final Test we can definitely come away with a win."