Australia have no chance in series against India, says Dean Jones
India are currently ranked No.1 in Tests though they lost their last two overseas tours in South Africa and England earlier this year.
Dean Jones is not known to hold back his opinions. And he didn’t when speaking about the upcoming high-voltage Test series between Australia and India Down Under, either. According to the former Australian batsman, the hosts have little chance of beating India in the series and will do well if they let go “provoking” Virat Kohli, the Indian captain.
India are currently ranked No.1 in Tests though they lost their last two overseas tours in South Africa and England earlier this year. Kohli’s men drew the T20I series in Australia 1-1 recently after losing the first match. The fact that Australia have two key members – Steve Smith and David Warner – missing in their ranks because of a ban has raised the expectations from India to register their maiden Test series victory Down Under.
India are miles ahead of Australia
The 57-year-old Dean Jones or Professor Deano, who played between 1984 and 1994, was quoted by Sydney Morning Herald as saying: “If India don’t win this series, they will never win in Australia. India are miles better than Australia in all formats but do they have the belief, and will their fast bowlers last the distance?”
India were playing in a warm-up match in Sydney ahead of the first Test starting December 6 against Cricket Australia XI and scored 358 in their first innings. The opponents made a good recovery from 6 for 234 to 356 and declared their innings on Day 3. Mohammed Shami was the best of the Indian bowlers with 3 for 67 while Umesh Yadav took one wicket. Ishant Sharma had no luck.
Given the fact that India’s overseas records have not been good of late and especially in Australia where they never won a Test series since 1947-48, Jones said: “With India’s history, maybe this series will not be a fait accompli. I do feel the result will go India’s way to the tune of a 2-0 or 3-0 result, as I just can’t see Australia winning a Test anywhere.”
He said Australia is normally a tough side to beat at home but with no Smith and Warner around this time, he couldn’t see anybody filling their shoes.
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