Former England captain Michael Vaughan has predicted that India might lose the four-match Test series if they face defeat in the first-ever pink ball game against Australia. The most-awaited day-night Test match will be played in Adelaide from December 17 to 21.
Cricketer-turned-commentator has reasoned that Australia is a much more stronger team than India considering their trio pacer Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazelwood and Pat Cummins will be up against them. He also stated that Australia has been undefeatable in Adelaide with the pink ball, so they are favourite to win the opening match. Moreover, with Virat Kohli missing the last three Tests, he reckons India could end up losing the series with 4-0.
“India will have to see off that trio of Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazelwood and Pat Cummins, they have to nullify that the Kookaburra new ball. If not, Australia will prove to be too strong and powerful. The pink ball Test is the key to the series. If Australia, as they generally do in the Adelaide day-night Test, they have never been beaten with the pink ball. If Australia win that Test match and then India lose Virat Kohli for the next three, this could be 4-0 for Australia,” Cricbuzz quoted Vaughan as saying.
Last year India was too good for Australia: Michael Vaughan
Michael Vaughan noted that India were stronger when they toured last time in Australia, but this year, the host has the firepower in the batting line up as Steve Smith, David Warner and Marnus Labuschange are in the squad.
“India two years ago were too strong for Australia in Australian conditions. They were terrific. The bowling attack of (Jasprit) Bumrah, (Mohammed) Shami, Ishant (Sharma) and (Ravichandran) Ashwin, the Wall (Cheteshwar) Pujara, he was the rock in the Indian batting lineup. They were just too good for the Aussies,” he said
“The main reason I believe they were too good was that there was no Smith, no Warner, no Labuschagne. The Australians are now a better Test match team. They held on to the Ashes in England. Tim Paine is improving as a Test-match captain,” Michael Vaughan said.
Virat Kohli will feature only in the opening Test match of the series. He will return home to attend the birth of his first child. In his absence, India’s batting will surely be weak although Cheteshwar Pujara, Ajinkya Rahane and Mayank Agarwal have shown promising performance in the warm-up game.