Former Australian all rounder Shane Watson did not join join the chorus that it's advantage India ahead the four-Test series, which kicks off in Adelaide on December 6, and instead believed that home ground benefits continues to be decisive in Test cricket.
Watson, who is currently participating in the T10 League in Sharjah, reiterated that this is indeed India's best chance to defeat Australia down under but opined that it's still difficult to win away from home.
"There is a massive home ground advantage for Australia. They haven't lost too many times in the history in Australia. So while there is no doubt this is India's best chance to win in Australia, it's still incredibly challenging to be able to win away," Watson said to India Today.
India is banking on its much improved bowling attack but the challenge of purchasing wickets with the old kookaburra ball would be bothering them after the bowlers conceded 544 runs in the tour game.
Ahead of the series, a lot of talks have been about captain Virat Kohli and how important it will be for the batsmen to come good. Most critics have passed the verdict that India's current bowling attack is capable of winning matches and it is the batsmen who will necessarily have to step up.
However, during India's only warm-up match against Cricket Australia XI, the bowlers conceded 544 runs and showed signs of struggling to clean up the tail once again.
Watson provided some insight into why bowling in Australia conditions is going to be extremely challenging as well.
"Compared to South Africa, in Australia, depending upon the way wickets are prepared, it can get very very flat with the kookaburra ball not doing much after the first 10 overs with the new ball. It can be a challenge but India have got one of the strongest pace bowling lineups from a pace point of view. And some variety as well with Bumrah who provides a different angle and different speed. So it will be a good test for the Aussie batsmen," Watson observed.
Australian cricket continues to be in a lot of dilemma with immense confusion between playing hard and being good.
The new Cricket Australia chairman Earl Eddings told the players to "Just play good, hard cricket. I don't think people want us to be quiet but they want us to play with respect to the game, play hard but fair, and win well and lose better."
Watson said that it all depends on each personality and "what gets the best out of you".
"The best Australia has the turn-up and at the end every individual has his own way of getting the best out of himself. Some are agressive, some are more in their own space. So it all depends on your own personality and what gets the best out of you. Collectively if the team is at their best, the team will do well," commented Watson.
Watson, who led Australia in a solitary Test in the controversial 2013 series of India, reckons it will boil down to a battle between Australian bowlers vs Indian batsmen.
"There is no doubt it's a big hole to fill with Smith and Warner missing but there is no doubt that we still have the quality to be able to fill those runs that we need to win. Our bowling attack is still very strong but so is India's batting line up. Virat is going to play a big part and they have a lot of other incredible batsmen. So their batting stocks are pretty strong. So I think it's going to be a awesome Test series to be able to watch."
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