Even before the start of the test series Down Under, the former Aussie speedster Glenn McGrath seriously doubted about India’s ability to win a test in Australia. Although India’s magnificent ODI series victory against Sri Lanka won adulation all over the nation, yet the Aussie legend still feels that the upcoming test series will be again a one sided story and eventually Australia will be successful in winning the series 4-0.
Glenn McGrath predicts India’s whitewash in Australia
Talking to Australian media, McGrath said that the performance of team India has always been lackluster on Australian pitches. Apart from 2003-2004 series that India has successfully drawn 1-1 under the meticulous captaincy of Sourav Ganguly in most of the other test series India have lost.
Statistics reveals that out of the last five test series that India played abroad, the team has lost all of them. In England, India have lost twice (2011 and 2014) and in Australia also the team has performed miserably during 2011-2012 series. Nevertheless the India’s poor performance, cost them the test series in South Africa (2013) and New Zealand (2014) too when host nations completely outplayed the Dhoni and team.
It is no surprise that every time India versus Australia is round the corner the mind game is played on and as per the expectation this has again been started from the Aussie side. Popularly called Pigeon the former Aussie pacer has further opined that Michael Clark’s fitness may not affect the team’s performance on the ground. Australia is set to win the series 4-0.
The Aussie spearhead further cast aspersion to India’s dream of winning a test series down under. He felt that team India might be a strong team otherwise, but when it comes to playing on Australian pitches the team struggles a lot especially against the seam and bounce.
Historically, Indian batsmen have failed to cope up against Australian pacers. This time around India will have to face the troika of Peter Siddle, Ryan Harris and Mitchell Johnson. These three speedsters will not give any opportunity to Indian batsmen to score big. However, McGrath didn’t hesitate to admit that team India is a good ODI side, but they seriously need to improve their performance in tests on fast pitches like Australia, England, South Africa and others.
Although McGrath undermined team India’s spirit, especially when the performance of Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, Dhawan and Rahane is making headlines worldwide it would be too early to predict Australia’s series victory. In fact, Kangaroo team needs to retrospect about the dull and gloomy show of their own batsmen against Pakistan in UAE in the recent test series.
It is worthwhile to mention here that India have won only two tests in the last 23 test matches that had been played in Australian soil. Also India hadn’t won any test series overseas since 2011. However the team is now full of focused youngsters who have proven their worth time in and out. Only the time will tell whether these youngsters perform well under challenging pitches of Australia or not.
Tags: Australia, Cricket, Glenn McGrath, India, Test Series
