Team India are set to host Australia in the upcoming Border-Gavaskar Trophy, starting February 09 in Nagpur. The four Tests in this series will be extremely crucial for both sides to confirm their places in the World Test Championship (WTC) final.
Under the leadership of Pat Cummins, the Australian team has been sensational both home and away. The Aussies have won Test matches down under and in the subcontinent as well, winning a series in Pakistan and drawing against Sri Lanka.
Speaking ahead of the India tour, former Australian cricketer Ian Healy took a dig at India regarding the pitches and also predicted the scoreline of the red-ball battle. Notably, Australia’s recent record against India hasn’t been impressive, and they would look to change that.
But the tourists will be tested in the spin conditions, and Healy reckoned the too much spin will pose a big challenge. Healy said Australia have a good chance of winning, considering if India produce reasonable wickets. The former wicketkeeper observed the spin-friendly tracks would help the hosts and predicted a 2-1 win for Team India in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.
“They’ve (India) got a good team, but I’m not too scared of their spinners unless they produce unreasonable wickets. If they produce unreasonable wickets like they did half the series last time (we won’t win), two wickets were just terrible, unfair, spinners jumping over your head on day one,” said Healy while taking to SEN.
“So that type of thing they will play better on than we will, but if they get flat wickets that India used to put out, nice flat batting wickets, and bowlers have to work really hard, I think we can do it. But (my prediction is) 2-1 India, if (Mitchell) Starc’s unavailable in the first Test,” he added.