Star batter Marnus Labuschagne reckons fast bowlers make India a “difficult” side to beat in Australian conditions. File
| Photo Credit: AP

Star batter Marnus Labuschagne reckons fast bowlers make India a “difficult” side to beat in Australian conditions as the hosts look to end their barren run in Border-Gavaskar Trophy which has lasted nearly a decade.

India has won every bilateral Test series against Australia since losing 1-2 in an away affair in 2014-15. They have recorded identical 2-1 series wins in 2018-19 and 2020-21 Down Under to remain on top.

“India’s fast bowling is very good, which is really what brings them in Australian conditions and make them such a tough team to beat in Australian conditions,” Labuschagne told Star Sports.

The middle-order mainstay termed the rivalry as ‘tough’ irrespective of where they are playing.

“There is always high anticipation. To these two teams, it doesn’t matter where we’re playing, if it’s in England, Australia, or India, it’s always a tough contest,” he said.

Australia spinner Nathan Lyon termed Indian players “superstars” while hoping to revive his on-field rivalry with India spinner Ravichandran Ashwin.

“I’ve always said throughout my whole career (that) I want to compete against the best and you look through the whole Indian line-up, the whole squad, there’s absolute superstars everywhere,” he said.

“I know Ashwin, we debuted around similar times and we’ve competed against each other in a number of series. I have got nothing but respect for him. He is an absolute master in the craft of off-spin bowling and it’s been an absolute privilege to play against him and learn off him,” said Lyon.

All-rounder Cameron Green reckoned the five-Test series between India and Australia starting on November 22 at Perth could be a “preview” for the final of the World Test Championship next year.

India lead the WTC table for the 2023-25 cycle with 68.52 percentage points and 74 points, followed by Australia with 62.50 percentage points and 90 points.

The WTC final will be played at Lord’s from June 11-15 next year and could feature both the current top two teams once again.

India have featured in the summit clashes of the WTC on both occasions but have lost to New Zealand (2019-21) and Australia (2021-23).

“Every single point is pretty crucial for the World Test Championship. Anyway you can kind of (or) get an idea of (to) how to get one up on your opponent, we’ll try and take,” Green said.

“If it is a bit of a preview for a World Test Championship final again, yeah, we’ve been trying to get as much information out of India and see how we can win it again,” he added.

Ravi Shastri noted that the team has got the likes of (Ravichandran) Ashwin and (Ravindra) Jadeja, as well as some very good bench strength. File
| Photo Credit: PTI

India is capable of a hat-trick of Test series triumphs in Australia given the quality of its bowlers and the strong batting lineup that has the likes of Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, feels former head coach Ravi Shastri.

India have won the last two Test series in Australia and has held onto the prestigious Border-Gavaskar Trophy since the Kangaroos claimed a 2-0 series victory on home soil at the beginning of 2015.

Also Read: Border-Gavaskar Trophy between India and Australia extended to 5 Tests

“With (Jasprit) Bumrah fit, (Mohammed) Shami fit, you’ve got Mohammed Siraj there. You’ve got the likes of (Ravichandran) Ashwin and (Ravindra) Jadeja, as well as some very good bench strength. One can’t wait for that series to start and (I think) India can do the hat-trick (of series victories in Australia),” Shastri told ICC.

Australia legend Ricky Ponting had recently predicted a 3-1 series win for his country but Shastri said that Indian bowlers can get the job done provided their batters are up to the challenge.

“It is going to be one heck of a series and India have every chance of making it a hat-trick because they’ve got their bowlers fit and if they can bat well, they can tickle (beat) Australia once again,” said Shastri.

India will play a five-match series Down Under beginning with the Test at Perth in November this year.

The Pat Cummins-led Australia are upbeat after they exacted sweet revenge over Rohit Sharma’s side during the World Test Championship final at The Oval last year, and Shastri feels that a hurting home side would be more than keen to re-claim the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.

“The Border-Gavaskar Trophy in Australia over five Test matches is going to be a humdinger.

“Remember, India have beaten Australia twice on the last two tours and Australia have not had a hand on the Border-Gavaskar Trophy in almost a decade and that’s the reason why everyone will be waiting for these two heavyweights of Test match cricket over the last five to eight years to go head-to-head,” added Shastri.

With Australia too boasting a strong bowling line-up, Shastri feels that revenge will be on the home team’s mind because of successive series losses they have suffered in the last two editions.

“We know what Australia will be wanting (revenge). They will be thirsty, they’d be looking to go at the throats of the Indians because they’ve been beaten there (in Australia) twice.

“The attack is pretty much the same. One of the greatest fast bowling attacks – (one of the greatest) all-round attacks when you add Nathan Lyon there – in a long, long time. And one of the best in the history of the game. They’ll be looking for those 20 wickets, game after game to help Australia win the series.” “It’s going to be India’s batting against the Australian fast bowlers. And of course, the Indian bowling attack is going to be something everyone will be waiting to see,” he added.