IND vs AUS: Former Australian pacer Ryan Harris believes that the Aussies are well-equipped to take on the Rohit Sharma-led hosts in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy and break the Test series drought in India. Australia’s last series win in India came in 2004 when Adam Gilchrist led the tourists to a 2-1 victory. Since then, Australia have lost all four series there but came close to winning in the most recent one, a 2-1 loss in 2017. Follow India vs Australia LIVE updates with InsideSport.IN
IND vs AUS: Ex-Australian pacer very CONFIDENT of Australia ending series drought against India, says ‘Cummins’ leadership and confident Australia have what it takes’
With the core of the 2016/17 squad returning but with more batting depth, Harris believes Pat Cummins’ team has every reason to be optimistic about the four-Test series, which begins in Nagpur on February 9.
“Much of the squad were over there last time so I think that will be a big plus in terms of experience,” Harris told Reuters. That will definitely help them. The momentum is good. The majority of them are going over there in form. I think they’re in a really good position if they’re going to do it with this squad they have,”
Australia’s positive attitude under Cummins’ leadership, according to Harris, helped them prepare for a long and taxing tour on vastly different pitches from home.
“He’s a pretty positive sort of person,” he said of Cummins. That’s really rubbed off since he’s taken over. They’re a tight group and I think the teams that I played in that had success were the same,” added Harris.
Despite the fact that India has a plethora of bowling options in their extended squad, he believes injured pacer Jasprit Bumrah’s absence is a huge blow for Rohit Sharma’s team. “With his reverse swing and bowling fast, there’s no doubt he will be missed. It would be like us not having Pat Cummins.”
The toss will be crucial, suggested Harris, given India’s successful blueprint of batting big and then dismantling teams with spin on crumbling pitches in the fourth innings. “If India’s batters put 350 or 400 on the board first up, you’re almost in survival mode to try to save the game, which is really hard to do,” said the 43-year-old Queenslander
IND vs AUS: Ex-Australian pacer very CONFIDENT of Australia ending series drought against India, says ‘Cummins’ leadership and confident Australia have what it takes’
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