IND vs AUS: If India do Not Succeed in ODIs And T20Is, They Will Get Smoked 4-0 in Tests – Michael Clarke
The former Australia captain Michael Clarke said if India don’t have success in the one-dayers and the T20s, they are in deep trouble in the Test matches once Kohli returns home
Former Australian captain Michael Clarke believes if Virat Kohli failed in setting the ‘winning tone’ for his side in limited-overs series then India will not be able to win a single Test in the upcoming Border-Gavaskar trophy.
The hosts Australia and India will play three ODIs, starting from November 27, followed by three T20 Internationals and four Test matches. The first Test match will be played in Adelaide on December 17 amd after playing this Test, Team India captain Virat Kohli will fly back to India to be with his wife Ansuhka Sharma who is going to give birth to their first child in January.
The Tone he Sets With His Team Will Play a Big Role: Michael Clarke
Meanwhile, Clarke feels that if India has to defend the Border-Gavaskar trophy, then Virat Kohli has to play a significant role in the limited-overs series.
“These one-dayers and these Twenty20s is where Virat Kohli can really stand up and lead from the front. I think the tone he sets with this team will play a big role when he leaves, after the first Test match. If India doesn‘t have success in the one-dayers and the T20s, they are in deep trouble in the Test matches, and they’ll get smoked 4-0, in my opinion,” Michael Clarke said on Sky Sports Radio on Tuesday.
Clarke, at the same time stated that Jasprit Bumrah needs to ‘set the tone’ with the ball for India and will have to attack the Australia batter with his bouncers, specially a batsman like Steve Smith.
Jasprit Bumrah Got To Use Short Balls Against Steve Smith: Michael Clarke
Steve Smith is quite low while playing bouncers. In 2019, when Australia played against Black-caps, Neil Wanger, World’s number 3 bowler had dismissed him four times in five innings. Wanger has used his capability to bowl short-pitched deliveries against Smith. Also last year during the Ashes, Smith suffered a concussion as he was hit on the helmet by Jofra Archer.
“He’s quick, he’s got a really different action, so I think he needs to set the tone and be really aggressive to the Australian batters. Even to someone like Steve Smith, he’s got to use that short ball consistently and regularly, as Jofra Archer did to Steve Smith in the Ashes,” Clarke concluded.
