Former Australia wicketkeeper Adam Gilchrist has revealed his favourites for the upcoming four-match Test series between India and Australia. The much-awaited series for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy will begin on Thursday (February 9) in Nagpur.
Australia have endured a tough time against India in Tests in recent years. They have lost the last three Test series against India including two at home. Their overall record in Tests in India is not great either.
Australia have not managed to win a Test series in India since the 2004/05 season. Incidentally, Adam Gilchrist was the captain when Australia last won a series in India. He had led the side during the 2004/05 series in absence of regular skipper Ricky Ponting.
Since that series win, Australia have visited India 5 times in 19 years and have managed to win just one Test during this period. The recent performances against India put Australia on the backfoot. However, Adam Gilchrist believes that the current Australian team has the potential to win the upcoming series against India.
“There’s not going to be anything easy and it’s not going to be a walk in the park, but it is their best chance and I expect them to do really, really well,” Adam Gilchrist told AAP. “The balance of their squad and how experienced the team is now is important.”
Australia have a good chance of winning: Adam Gilchrist:
Speaking further, Adam Gilchrist noted similarities between this team and the 2004 squad in terms of recent Asian experience. Prior to visiting India in 2004, Australia had visited Pakistan and Sri Lanka. They had registered a 1-0 series win in Pakistan before drawing 1-1 with Sri Lanka in two Tests.
“They’ve had a number of tours to subcontinental countries to gain and learn from and that was what held us up in 2004,” Gilchrist said.
“We were very well planned and prepared due to the experiences we had, both positive and negative, previously in the subcontinent. This group of players has built up that bank of knowledge and the skills that they have, so they have a very good chance of winning,” he added.
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