Veteran off-spinner Harbhajan Singh feels Steven Smith’s team is the weakest Australian team to tour India.
One of the finest performers in Indo-Australian matches, the Punjab star said the team from Down Under is set to suffer a similar fate as that in 2013, when they were blanked 4-0 by Mahendra Singh Dhoni-led side.
“I have played against some of the best Australian sides. In my opinion, looking at the composition, this is the weakest Australian side to tour India. I don’t think this team has the wherewithal to cope with a quality Indian side in the Indian conditions. It can again be 4-0 like 2013 season,” Harbhajan said.
“That team 2001 had Matthew Hayden, Michael Slater, Adam Gilchrist, Rickey Ponting and Steve Waugh. In this team, if you take Steve Smith and David Warner out, I don’t think this batting line-up can offer resistance to Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja. Both know how to get wickets on the Indian tracks,” justified the off-spinner who had taken a record 32 wickets in the historic 2001 series.
The bowler, who is currently out of the Indian team, further said the English team, which was recently thrashed 4-0 by India, was a better batting unit then Australia.
“I believe the England team that toured India recently were a better batting outfit. They scored 400 plus runs on multiple occasions. It’s not going to happen with this Australian side,” said Harbhajan.
Harbhajan went on to say that even Australia skipper Steven Smith, who is known as a good player of spin, will face a tough challenge in Indian conditions.
“Take IPL out of the equation because those matches are played on flat batting pitches. And most of Smith’s centuries are against spinners on Australian pitches. The length varies, there’s less turn and the bounce makes it easier for strokeplayers. In India, Ashwin and Jadeja on these tracks will pose far bigger challenge for Smith. In case of Warner, he can attack which means he will give you chances,” said Harbhajan.
He also said Mitchell Starc would not be able to pose a big threat due to the testing weather conditions in Indian sub-continent.
“The series is starting at a time when India summer commences. Starc would find it difficult to bowl more than 3-4 overs at full tilt in this heat and humidity. Also how many overs will Starc bowl in an innings? 20 overs. So how much his body will hold during the third or fourth spell will be key,” he said.
Speaking about Australia’s spin spearhead Nathan Lyon, who was the third highest-taker during the 2013 series, Harbhajan said:
“I have a lot of respect for Nathan Lyon. He has 200 plus Test wickets being an off-spinner playing bulk of cricket Down Under. But then again, he will be bowling to the likes of Virat Kohli, Murali Vijay or Ajinkya Rahane in India is different. The other two spinners are absolute rookies.”