Former Australia captain Steve Waugh says the upcoming four-match rubber is a “significant chance” for India to win their first Test series Down Under.
The series begins with the first Test in Adelaide on December 6.
“I will see this as a significant chance and they would have prepared for this tour for a long time, I think it’s going to be a really close series,” Waugh told ESPNcricinfo.
India captain Virat Kohli is likely to be the biggest threat for the Australian bowlers, as they look to maintain their unbeaten record at home against the Asian giants.
Asked how Australia would tackle the Kohli threat, Waugh said, “He is a great player and loves the big moment, a bit like Tendulkar and Lara.
They wait for these big series and that’s where they want to show their best. So who is the danger man for Australia? They have got some really good batsmen, they have got a very good all-round team.”
Former wicketkeeper Adam Gilchrist said the visitors would mainly bank on their talismanic skipper to get runs on the board.
“Virat is clearly the best player in the world at the moment. So India will look to him to score heavily but all are going to have their challenges and as too will the Australian batting line-up,” Gilchrist said.
The big-hitting batsman of yesteryears was of the opinion that the Australian pace attack comprising Mitchell Starc, Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood could pose tough questions.
“I think Pat Cummins is outstanding, Hazlewood is almost McGrath like with his bowling. Those three guys and there are couple in the wings who are high quality fast bowlers.”
Lawson praises Indian quicks
Former fast bowler Geoff Lawson believes the current Indian attack is one of the best he has seen in a long time and will challenge the Australian batsmen in the four-Test series.
“They have got some terrific fast bowlers, as good a group as I’ve seen for a long time and they’ve got the spinners that always do the job,” Lawson told reporters.
“Ishant Sharma’s last time out here he got extra bounce. Umesh Yadav bowls freak (deliveries), Mohammed Shami has been swinging it, Bhuvneshwar Kumar swings it as well.
“They are not going to play all four, they are going to play three and maybe one or two spinners,” Lawson said.
Playing international cricket in the 1980s, Lawson has 180 Test wickets to his name. He said starting the series in Adelaide will work in India’s favour.
“The first Test (is) in Adelaide, so they got their wish there didn’t they, not playing in Brisbane or Perth.
“They’ve got four good guys and they’ve got some extra pace so that will be a big challenge I’m expecting a really good series.”
In the only warm-up game against Cricket Australia XI before the Test series, the prime candidates for India’s Test attack got a good workout with pacemen Mohammed Shami, Umesh Yadav and Ishant Sharma all bowling over 20 overs and frontline spinner R. Aswhin sending down more than 30.
