India’s veteran fast bowler Ishant Sharma has toured Australia on four occasions. It was only on the 2018-19 tour that India savored their first Test series triumph on Australian soil. The visitors had outplayed the hosts to win the four-match series by 2-1. The tourists won the first Test match by 31 runs at Adelaide Oval. However, Australia bounced back to win the second Test match by 146 runs.
Subsequently, India once against bounced back to win the Boxing Day Test match by 137 runs and took a 2-1 lead in the series. The fourth and final Test match ended in a draw after rain played a killjoy but the Virat Kohli-led team had dominated the whole Test match.
Ishant Sharma has been at his best in the last two years
Ishant Sharma also played a key role in the success of the team as he scalped 11 wickets in three matches of the series. The pace battery was instrumental as Ishant, Jasprit Bumrah, and Shami collectively took 48 wickets in the series.
“First time winning a Test series in Australia is obviously a very big thing for any cricketer. It was big for me as I have toured Australia four times and I know how tough it is. The team had the motivation to create history in Australia,” Ishant told opening batsman Mayank Agarwal on the series ‘Open Nets with Mayank’ hosted by bcci.tv.
Meanwhile, Ishant Sharma has turned the tables in the last two years. The experienced pacer is a different bowler altogether after his County stint with Sussex back in the 2017 season.
Ishant has played 18 Test matches in the last two years in which he has snared 71 wickets at an impressive average of 19.14 and he has taken four five-wicket hauls.
The tall fast bowler from Delhi has scalped 297 wickets in 97 Test matches and he is finally making good use of his vast experience. Ishant would like to continue his good form on Australia’s tour later in the year.
India will play four Test matches against Australia and it is going to be a difficult challenge as Steven Smith and David Warner are back in the hosts’ side. The first Test will begin at the Gabba, Brisbane from December 3.