Former Australian legendary fast bowler Glenn McGrath believes the single biggest challenge for Australia is coming to India, performing well, and winning the series. The last time Australia savored success in difficult Indian conditions was back in 2004 as the visitors had won the Test series 2-1.
Since then Australia hasn’t been able to defeat India in Indian conditions. In fact, India has beaten Australia on their last two tours Downunder in 2018-19 and 2020-21.
Thus, India has dominated Australia in the last five to six years in Test cricket while playing as hosts as well as visitors.
Meanwhile, the Indian spinners – Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja – have troubled the Australian batters in spin-friendly conditions in India. The duo has done an amazing job for Team India in Test cricket and they are a force to reckon with in the Indian conditions.
Glenn McGrath said while talking to cricket.com as quoted by the official website of the ICC, “Obviously, the single biggest challenge for Australia is coming to India, performing well and winning the series.”
“We were lucky enough to do it in 2004. You’ve got to come up with good plans, the batters have to learn to adapt to turning pitches and the bowlers have to learn to bowl in those conditions.
“I think with IPL, a lot of players have been over here (in India) regularly and have hence experienced the conditions. The current Australian team, evident from their showings in Sri Lanka and Pakistan, is starting to get a better understanding of how to play on sub-continent wickets. That being said, India is still the ultimate challenge. I think they’re up for it.”
There is no doubt that winning in India is always challenging because of the favorable spin conditions and it is difficult for foreign batters to adapt to them. England was the last team to win in India in 2012 and since then no other team has been able to pose a challenge to the potent Indian team.
Meanwhile, Australia will play three T20Is against India before the T20 World Cup. The first T20I will be played at the Punjab Cricket Association IS Bindra Stadium, Mohali on 20th September.
