Former Australia all-rounder Shane Watson, while remembering the (in)-famous homework gate when Australia toured India in 2013, has backed the current Steven Smith’s team to do well in the four-Test series against Australia, starting February 23.

“It really can’t get any worse than what it was in 2013.

“So that’s a good starting point because that’s as bad as it can get, players getting suspended from a Test match. I’m sure that won’t happen this time,” Watson said.

Watson believes spin will not be the only dominating factor on the next month’s tour. He said this whilst remembering the tour of 2004/05 where for India, it were the spinners who did the job but for Australia, it was Jason Gillespie and Glenn McGrath who shared 34 wickets among themselves to lead Australia to a 2-1 series win.

“Obviously the way that you win over there is through spin bowling, but not necessarily just only spin bowling.

“The time the Aussie team won in 2004, they only had Shane Warne and three quick bowlers. It’s more just playing to your absolute strengths, playing your best players, who’ve got the best chance of being able to play in those extreme conditions than what we’re used to,” Watson said.

Watson also had a piece of advice for Matt Renshaw, the likely opening batsman for Australia, as he said:

“He knows his game incredibly well and I’m sure he’ll just stick to his game plan like he did in the Test matches he’s played. I’m sure he’ll have a lot of success.

“For a young guy to be able to have so much control over what he’s doing, shows he’s got what it takes to be successful in any conditions.”

Renshaw is Shaun Marsh’s competitor for the opening slot and it’ll be interesting to see the winner between the two for the job.

The Tests series between India and Australia begins on 23rd of next month with the first Test match to be played in Pune. Australia have already tightened their screws for the series as they have added Sridharan Sriram and Monty Panesar as spin consultants.