Australia Favourites in Upcoming Tests Against India: Wasim Akram

Prior to India’s tour of Australia, former Pakistan fast bowler Wasim Akram has said that Australia would be the favourite to win the Test series against India in December-January.

The four-Test series will be played between the two countries in December-January. Earlier, both teams will play three ODIs and three T20 matches. Team India will leave for Australia soon after the completion of the 13th edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL 2020). The Test series starts in Adelaide from December 17.

“I think Australia’s fast bowling is the best in the world. They have Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood and other top-class bowlers. It will be a close contest but I would say Australia start off as favourites,” Akram toldCricket Baaz, a Youtube channel.

He further said that India also has a good bowling line-up led by Jasprit Bumrah and it will lead to a strong competition between the teams.

“Mohammad Shami, Bumrah, Saini and others are good,” he said.

Akram further said that there is a lot of self-confidence in Team India.

“The Indian team has got a lot of confidence. Their body language has changed. As a team, they have confidence in themselves just like when we used to enter the ground in the 90s.

“Their body language shows they believe in themselves and the hard work they are putting in. I would say ‘Indian players thode badmash ho Gaye hai’, (Indian players have become a little mischievous),” he said.

Team India last visited Australia back in 2018 and won the series 2–1. However, Steve Smith and David Warner were not in the Australian team due to a ban on ball tempering during this period.

Wasim Akram agreed that Smith and Warner would strengthen Australian batting. He also said that a lot would depend on the pitches.

“When the Kookaburra ball gets old you have to think about how to keep runs down as the wickets are tough to come by,” he said.