Steve Waugh reckons Australia are the favourites for upcoming Test series against India

Steve Waugh, the former Australian skipper, believes that the Aussies will be the firm favourites when India the country for a four-match Test series, starting December 2020. Earlier in 2019, India beat the hosts 2-1, which was also their maiden Test series victory on Australian soil. Virat Kohli’s men won the series after the fourth the final Test at the SCG ended in a draw.

The upcoming series is also likely to consist a Day-Night Test at the Adelaide Oval. Sourav Ganguly, the BCCI president iterated the same recently. Waugh feels Australia will have the upper hand in that game due to the familiarity with the conditions. The legendary batsman also lauded Kohli’s approach and said that winning away from home is the hallmark of a quality side.

“Australia will be the favourite I think. We know the pitches well and the day-night Test is going to be something relatively new for India. I like the way Virat Kohli is taking that challenge. If you want to be the best side in the world, you have to win away from home as much as possible,” Waugh was quoted as saying in Times Now.

It’s potential to be a great series, says Waugh

Backing his comments of picking Australia as favourites, Waugh put forth the hosts’ power-packed batting lineup. The veteran highlighted the fact that last time around, the home team didn’t possess the likes of Steve Smith and David Warner, two of their prolific run-scorers.

Moreover, Waugh said that the emergence of Marnus Labuschagne from the blues have done wonders to the Aussie batting lineup. Waugh, also the 1999 World Cup-winning skipper, admitted that India don’t have shortcomings and the series will be a closely-fought one.

“You can’t take away from India winning last time but Australia did not have the best batsmen. Marnus Labuschagne has come out of nowhere, the bowling looks much settled now. India do not have weaknesses too, so it’s potential to be a great series,” he added.

Australia are currently the No.2 side in the ICC World Test Championship, having mustered 296 points from 10 matches with seven victories. On the other hand, India have won all their seven matches with as many as 360 points.