melbourne
Former India head coach Ravi Shastri believes Australia’s weak batting line-up means India are ahead ahead of the Boxing Day Test starting at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) on Thursday. The five-match Border-Gavaskar Trophy series is currently tied at 1-1. “I think it has been quite weak. When you look at this Australian line-up, it’s been a long time since I’ve seen an Australian line-up with such a weak top order. India has taken advantage of this and will continue to take advantage of it.
Shastri told News.com.au, “I think it is going to be a great match. I think India will win this series, the way this series is progressing. Any overseas team is tied 1-1, especially when the matches are in Perth, Adelaide and Brisbane, they will win it. Going into Boxing Day with a 1-1 draw is the best situation. I would say India is ahead.”
He also shared his view on Sam Constas, who is set to make his Test debut at the MCG, with Nathan McSweeney being dropped after poor performances in the first three matches. The biggest challenge for young Kontas will be to face Jasprit Bumrah, the bowler who is the highest wicket taker in the current series with 21 wickets.
“India is tied 1-1 in the series and that guy (Bumrah) has single-handedly put India in that position. As far as Constas is concerned, I think she’s very fresh. He’s got talent, he’s brilliant. But Test cricket is Test cricket. I think his technique will get better and he will be the future of Australia.”
Shastri said, “McSweeney was very unlucky. I thought he worked hard, but he is a middle-order batsman. I see him going there when the Australian team goes to Sri Lanka and rebuilding his career from there. But I think it is a good move to include Constas, because you need someone who can attack the Indian team, because the strikes were coming from anywhere.”
He further said that India will win its third consecutive Test series in Australia, before this India had also won here in 2018/19 and 2020/21. “very nice. No team has done this for a long time. Whenever Australia comes here, it overwhelms the teams. It would be something special for India to win three consecutive series.”
“But they have to play good cricket. I think Australia will give a tough fight in this Test match, especially with the bowlers. The biggest challenge for Australia will be batting. India has come here to win, it has not come here to increase numbers.”
“Even when I was the coach, our mantra was extremely hard work, fairness and winning. You have to think of how to beat Australia and not just compete. You have to plan properly how to take your 20 wickets. India has done this and has been very aggressive.
Shastri said, “They are facing Australia and have performed as well as they can. It’s been fun and exciting. India is ahead. I think the first day of the Boxing Day Test will decide which way the series will go.”
Following the sudden international retirement of Ravichandran Ashwin, Shastri concluded by saying that he is hopeful that the Indian team will soon have new faces in the batting department. “In the batting department, I can see some new faces in a year or two. Jaiswal is young. Shubhman Gill is very young, Rishabh Pant is still very young. There are plenty of other players in the mix who could come in very soon.”
