Skip to main content

'It's become harder & harder for visiting teams to go to India'

Image Courtesy: BCCI

Australia will struggle on their tour of India where they will play four Tests against the world's top-ranked side in spin-friendly conditions, former captain Ricky Ponting has predicted.

IND vs AUS - Complete Schedule

Steve Smith's men will travel to India next month having been beaten 4-0 four years ago.

They were also whitewashed 3-0 in Sri Lanka last August in similar conditions prompting Ponting to issue a grim outlook for the team.

"I think they'll struggle," the 42-year-old, who played 168 Tests for Australia told Sky Sports Radio. "Every team that goes there struggles.

"It's become harder and harder for visiting teams to go to India. They probably make wickets to suit them more than ever before."

The last time India lost a Test at home was against England at the end of 2012 and Virat Kohli's side have won their last five series to climb to the top of the Test rankings.

South Africa, New Zealand and England have all lost series in India in the last 15 months and Australia's last success in the country was in 2004 when they won a four-Test series 2-1.

"I went there for a lot of tours and we obviously played in some tough conditions," added Ponting. "But the wickets were good for the first couple of days of the game and then they started to turn.

"But now, even looking at what happened in Sri Lanka, whenever the Australian team tours anywhere on the subcontinent you can guarantee the wicket is going to turn, and turn quite a bit, from day one of the game."

Following the 3-0 drubbing in Sri Lanka, Australia's Test team plunged into a crisis with successive home defeats to South Africa. After a national outcry forced wholesale changes, they recovered by winning the final Test against South Africa in Adelaide before beating Pakistan 3-0.

"The challenges are going to be there for the Aussie team," Ponting said. "Unlike what happened in Sri Lanka, as long as they can find a way to be competitive in the test series.

"It's a real learning curve for our guys now to find a balance between playing the Australian way but (also) adapting that to Indian conditions."

The first Test starts in Pune on Feb. 23 and is followed by matches in Bangalore, Ranchi and Dharamsala.

Stay updated on the go with Sify Live Scores App. Click here to download it for your device



via Sify.com http://ift.tt/2kA0Dmz
Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Manchester United to do everything to get Rashford ready for Liverpool clash

Leeds [UK], Jan 16 (ANI): Manchester United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer said they will do 'everything' they can to get Marcus Rashford in shape for the Liverpool clash. Rashford sustained a back injury on Thursday during the FA Cup clash against Wolves on Thursday and left the field. "He's a quick healer and he'll play through some pain, definitely, if he's capable, if it's not a bad, bad injury. But we've seen that he's struggled lately - but more when he's been tired," Goal.com quoted Solskjaer as saying. "He wasn't on long enough to be tired so I think it might have been something that just happened there and then. He's been absolutely top this season so we'll do everything we can to get him fit for Sunday. If he's not then we'll play without him," he added. Manchester United secured a 1-0 win against Wolves with the help of Juan Mata's strike. Manchester United will take on Liverpool in Premier L...
Post a Comment
Read more

Pogba is one of best players when in form: Ole Gunnar Solskjaer

Leeds [UK], Dec 7 (ANI): Manchester United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has praised midfielder Paul Pogba, saying that he is one of the best players in the world when he is in good touch. "Paul is going to play when he gets his fitness. He is one of the best players in the world when he's in form and we just need to give him time to be 100 per cent fit," Goal.com quoted Solskjaer as saying. Pogba has endured a frustrating 2019-20 campaign to date, having only managed five Premier League appearances in total due to a string of fitness issues. He is currently recovering from an ankle injury and last played for the club on September 30 against Arsenal. Solskjaer had said that the France international will be out of action till December. "It might be 45 minutes in the first game, it might be half an hour, it might be 90. It depends on what game he comes back in and I'm looking back to get Paul back to where I had him about a year ago," Solskjaer said. ...
Post a Comment
Read more