Published: Nov 14, 2018, 02:24 PM (IST)
Edited: Nov 14, 2018, 02:24 PM (IST)
After steamrolling an experienced West Indies side in the Test, ODI and Twenty20 International series, an India side, led by Virat Kohli, oozing with confidence, will depart for Australia on Friday to gear up for the marquee tour-month long tour where they will play three T20Is, four Tests and three ODIs, beginning with the first T20I on November 21 at the Gabba in Brisbane.
The four-match Test series gets underway on December 6 with the first Test at Adelaide.
India last toured Australia in 2015-16 when they lost the five-match ODI series 1-4 but won the three-match T20I series 3-0. In the last edition of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy in 2014-15, India suffered a 0-2 defeat in the four-match Test series.
Things are different now in Kangarooland. Ever since the ball-tampering incident that led to Steve Smith, David Warner and Cameron Bancroft suspended, Australian cricket has fallen to deplorable levels.
However, former Australia off-spinner Ashley Mallett reckons the hosts still have a weapon in off-spinner Nathan Lyon, who claimed 12 wickets in the opening Test of the 2014-15 series in Adelaide, where India lost by 48 runs.
“Look, it’s not that Lyon will bowl to an Indian line-up that includes VVS Laxman and Sachin Tendulkar. Those batsmen used their feet and thus changed the length. No one tries to change the length – not just India, all the teams’ batsmen,” Mallett told MID-DAY on Wednesday.
“If Lyon spins it on a good length, he will pose problems. He’s a real class bowler now.”
Mallett, who was part of Ian Chappell’s 1972 team that toured England, advised Lyon to keep things simple during the Test series.
“He can just bowl the way he does — hit the right spot and get wickets. He will be successful because batsmen don’t use their feet well,” said Mallett.
