Australia send England a warning for the Ashes, after performing better than them in India

Australia have followed cricketing arch-rivals England by losing a Test series in India on Tuesday, but the Australian team that lost to India, was far more formidable than the England team that lost to India, and in that case, Australia will be quite a threat to England in next winter’s Ashes.

Australia were in trouble last November when they were thrashed by South Africa in Hobart in a shameful home Test series defeat, which was followed by their whitewash in Sri Lanka. But those losses did not interfere with Steve Smith’s confidence, who led his side smartly in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy and didn’t make the series win easy for India.

England were thrashed 4-0, but Australia managed a decent tour to India. Considering this, it will be Joe Root who will be under pressure when they face Australia in cricket’s most revered rivalry – The Ashes.

“I am proud of the way we have turned things round and really competed in these conditions. We were written off coming here. People said we would lose 4-0 but we fought hard throughout and to fall at the final hurdle hurts.” Smith said after the final Test at Dharamsala.

It has always been difficult for England to win in Australia, but by the time the Ashes arrives, Joe Root will have seven Tests this summer against West Indies and South Africa to settle in.

Australia, as seen in India, are in a much better position than they were just three months ago while England, even though full of promise, are inconsistent and not anywhere close to the top of the ICC rankings.

Steve Smith, on the other hand, is in the form of his life, but there are still quite some time leading into the Ashes, and things might change with time.