Is India's upcoming tour the best chance for ANY Asian side ever to win a Test series in Australia?

[the_outsider]

India the so called “best team in Asia” has lost their last away series against NZ, Aus, SA and Eng while Pakistan have drawn their series against England last time they played them. I don’t see how this all adds up to Indian being a better touring side than Pakistan?

Scorelines of latest SENA tours:

India in Eng: 1-4 (5)
Pak in Eng: 1-1 (2)

India in Australia: 0-2 (4)
Pak in Australia: 0-3 (3)

India in SA: 1-2 (3)
Pak in SA: 0-3 (3)

India in NZ: 0-1 (2)
Pak in NZ: 0-2 (2)

Loss % for India in last SENA tours - 64%
Loss % for Pak in last SENA tours - 90%

Number of whitewashes for India: 0
Number of whitewashes for Pak: 3

This is how it all adds up.

 

[Ozeirk]

Scorelines of latest SENA tours:

India in Eng: 1-4 (5)
Pak in Eng: 1-1 (2)

India in Australia: 0-2 (4)
Pak in Australia: 0-3 (3)

India in SA: 1-2 (3)
Pak in SA: 0-3 (3)

India in NZ: 0-1 (2)
Pak in NZ: 0-2 (2)

Loss % for India in last SENA tours - 64%
Loss % for Pak in last SENA tours - 90%

Number of whitewashes for India: 0
Number of whitewashes for Pak: 3

This is how it all adds up.

Sure, here’s another way of looking at the numbers.

Last tours in SENA countries:

India’s percentage of lost series: 100%
Pakistan’s percentage of lost series: 75%

 

[szrana]

Shoaib had a poor game at WACA, and there is a big gap between AUS of 1992 & 1999. And, WIN at WACA is exactly opposite of PAK there - even that 1975 team won only Test (in a 1-5 loss), by innings at WACA, and before 2000s, AUS best result at WACA against WIN was to make 1988 Test into Day 5. 5-0 till 2000, including 3 innings wins, one 10 wicket win and the 1988 one, when they won by a small margin of 170 runs.

In any considerations, I don't see PAK making any fight with that AUS at WACA, in fact any AUS - MCG/SCG/Adelaide - may be, but no way WACA. I can put it other way also - AUS won the series and released pressure on gas, still won by innings.

Yeah, maybe you are right, I was having a fantasy of Shoaib doing to Aus, what Ambrose did in 1992, but 99 Oz team was certainly better. On a side note if Pakistan had won Hobart test and Sydney test 2010, then at least they wouldn't have awful 12-0 record in Aus.

 

[rhony]

Scorelines of latest SENA tours:

India in Eng: 1-4 (5)
Pak in Eng: 1-1 (2)

India in Australia: 0-2 (4)
Pak in Australia: 0-3 (3)

India in SA: 1-2 (3)
Pak in SA: 0-3 (3)

India in NZ: 0-1 (2)
Pak in NZ: 0-2 (2)

Loss % for India in last SENA tours - 64%
Loss % for Pak in last SENA tours - 90%

Number of whitewashes for India: 0
Number of whitewashes for Pak: 3

This is how it all adds up.

Pak have been abysmal in AUS and SA for a while but they used to dominate NZ and were always competetive in Eng. Not sure if the last NZ tour was after Misbah and Younis retired.

 

[the_outsider]

Sure, here’s another way of looking at the numbers.

Last tours in SENA countries:

India’s percentage of lost series: 100%
Pakistan’s percentage of lost series: 75%

I could have agreed with you if Pakistan didn't lose 9 out of 10 matches. Or if 3 out of 4 series didn't end in whitewashes.

 

[the_outsider]

Pak have been abysmal in AUS and SA for a while but they used to dominate NZ and were always competetive in Eng. Not sure if the last NZ tour was after Misbah and Younis retired.

Misbah and YK were playing during Pak's last tour to NZ as well as SA.

 

[Ami]

So hang on a minute...8 tours of the best Asia has to offer (Pak & Ind combined) led to 7 series losses and 1 series drawn.

Hell, Ind has no chance!

Then again, these SENA teams in Ind or Pak probably made a similar reading...right?

SA in Pak: 1-1
ENG in Pak: 0-2
AUS in Pak: 0-1
NZ in Pak: 1-1

 

[Junaids]

Australia has suffered 60 all out (England) and 85 all out (South Africa) even with Smith and Warner in the team.

The rest of their batting would struggle to be selected for Bangladesh or Zimbabwe.

Now that the two decent Aussie batsmen are banned, who is supposed to score enough runs to avoid defeat?

They have lost 3 of their last 4 Tests by more than 300 runs.

 

[the_outsider]

Australia has suffered 60 all out (England) and 85 all out (South Africa) even with Smith and Warner in the team.

The rest of their batting would struggle to be selected for Bangladesh or Zimbabwe.

Now that the two decent Aussie batsmen are banned, who is supposed to score enough runs to avoid defeat?

They have lost 3 of their last 4 Tests by more than 300 runs.

They still have batsmen who can score runs at home.

You look at the home averages for this Australian batting lineup:

Khawaja - 60
Renshaw - 63
S Marsh - 45
M Marsh - 40


Finch obviously hasn't played at home yet but he too will be much better at home than he was in the UAE.

 

[Usman Chadda]

Definitely possible that India will also lose. They might win, though. But the same can't be said for any other Asian team at this point. No other Asian team can beat this Australian side in Australia.

A series win in Australia is beyond all Asian sides right now. India might win or draw a match though.

 

[docteurmanish]

based on current form
remember that sa were having ab and steyn - their best batters and bowlers ever in last 20 years ( yes better than donald and pollock)

sa do choke .in tests less but they do . dont feel without ab and steyn in top form they can win

their pace battery was outgunned by indian battery recently . aussie pace is rt now the best though

 

[the_outsider]

A series win in Australia is beyond all Asian sides right now. India might win or draw a match though.

India managed 2 draws the last time they toured when Smith, Warner, Clarke, Watson and Haddin were all still playing.

If this Indian team returns home without their first series win, they should be thoroughly disappointed with themselves.

 

[Junaids]

A series win in Australia is beyond all Asian sides right now. India might win or draw a match though.

The Aussie team is currently deprived of its only two top class batsmen but more to the point the team is demoralised, the public is furious with them and the new coach has lost his first three series.

I can’t emphasise enough the raw hatred the Aussie public has for this team currently.

Sure, the bowlers got away with murder in claiming to know nothing about the ball tampering.

But in a country where ordinary people play amateur sport well into their fifties, the public was already appalled at the Win At All Costs unsporting behaviour in Cape Town.

The appalling bloodbath at Cricket Australia this last three weeks has left 90% of cricket fans disgusted by Cricket currently. The news media - let alone sports media - could not believe that Cricket Australia Chairman David Peever hid the damning reports about the organisation until twenty minutes after he was re-elected.

Cricket has a bad, bad name here currently.

India will massacre a demoralised Aussie team.

 

[Balthazar]

Yeah, a team which has a grand total of 4 test wins out of 32 matches in SENA countries since 2010 are favorites to win in Aus.In comparison lowly Pak has won 6 out of 22. Talk about delusions,lol

I didn't know Kohli was leading since 2010 and we were ranked #1 for 7-8 years.

 

[Balthazar]

How come the best team in this era has lost all their away series against Australia, Nz, sa and eng?

Tell me who is the number #1 ranked in Test cricket again? Irrespective of the results, the fact is this team enters each overseas series as favorites and that doesn't mean other Asian teams stand similar chance.

 

[giri26]

No series featuring India is straightforward. We went in with the same hope to England and SA as well. The batting needs to fire if India have to win overseas. That has been the biggest issue for us. If the top 5 bat well, we have a great chance with the bowling attack we have. If the batting struggles like in SA and England, this will be another what could have been series for us.

 

[Mamba Red]

India should smash us, 2 good players and a young very good player banned, if India does not win this series then they are a laughing stock, they already are a laughing stock.

 

[ind_win]

India managed 2 draws the last time they toured when Smith, Warner, Clarke, Watson and Haddin were all still playing.

If this Indian team returns home without their first series win, they should be thoroughly disappointed with themselves.

If kohli does not do "genius" last minute changes, I strongly believe Ind will win this. And I hope kohli learnt lessons, dhoni's exit from t20 to start with is a good sign for Indian fans...................

 

[Usman Chadda]

The Aussie team is currently deprived of its only two top class batsmen but more to the point the team is demoralised, the public is furious with them and the new coach has lost his first three series.

I can’t emphasise enough the raw hatred the Aussie public has for this team currently.

Sure, the bowlers got away with murder in claiming to know nothing about the ball tampering.

But in a country where ordinary people play amateur sport well into their fifties, the public was already appalled at the Win At All Costs unsporting behaviour in Cape Town.

The appalling bloodbath at Cricket Australia this last three weeks has left 90% of cricket fans disgusted by Cricket currently. The news media - let alone sports media - could not believe that Cricket Australia Chairman David Peever hid the damning reports about the organisation until twenty minutes after he was re-elected.

Cricket has a bad, bad name here currently.

India will massacre a demoralised Aussie team.

India got outplayed by a weak England side, who were coming off a 1-1 series against an inexperienced Pakistan team at home. By all accounts, India should have smashed England. But what we saw was total capitulation and a humiliating defeat.

Australia might be weaker than before, but the likes of Shaun Marsh, Mitchell Marsh, Travis Head etc know how to score runs in Australia. Also their bowling attack is fit and raring to go, with Starc, Hazlewood and Cummins forming a frightening bowling attack for Asian teams on Australian wickets. This is going to be tougher than England.

 

[ARK Rafay]

It is their best chance. But in the current Aussie test line up. Their is still Starc, Hazlewood, Cummins and Lyon. + The likes of Marsh brothers khawaja and finch. In their home conditions they know how to play

 

[cricketindiafan]

A newbie like Sam Curran did in England has a chance to become a superstar. An oldie like Moeen Ali could reestablish himself. I am sure there are those type of players in Australian cricket.

There just isn't enough focus on winning the Test series else we would pulled out Test squad players from T20s vs WI and Aus, got into a training, conditioning and strategising camp of 6-7 days, arrived in Australia by 15th Nov and played at least 3 practice games of minimum 3 days each with one being a 4 day match before the first test starts on 6th December and another practice match of 3 days between 2nd and 3rd test (we have a gap of 7 days) . Instead the build up to 1st test will be similar to what we had in SA and England.

We will most likely win the T20 series, lose the Tests and win the ODI series (where AUs will rest some key bowlers).

 

[MP2011]

Rohit rested from India 'A' match against NZ 'A' in NZ.

lol.....Considering that he is in test squad for Aus tour and most likely will be in final XI, he should've got all the match practice he could in the longer format of the game. Instead he is being rested.

Simply shows we do not care enough to win overseas test series and this Aus trip won't be any different from SA and Eng tours....

 

[MP2011]

BTW, what is he tired from? If my memory serves me right, he has played 5-ODI Asia cup, followed by 5-ODIs & 3-T20s against WI. That's grand total of 13 int'l games!

If he gets tired so easily, wonder how his precarious body will cope up with the rigors of Aus trip, considered to be the most arduous of all overseas trips?

 

[MP2011]

This is what BCCI has to say on this,

""Rohit Sharma has been advised rest by the BCCI Medical Team in consultation with the team management and the All-India Senior Selection Committee. The decision was taken keeping in mind his recent workload," said the BCCI in a statement."

lol, we surely have got our priorities right! Workload!!

 

[MP2011]

India A squad for 1st four-day game against New Zealand A: Ajinkya Rahane (Captain), M Vijay, Prithvi Shaw, Mayank Agarwal, Hanuma Vihari, Parthiv Patel (wicket-keeper), K Gowtham, Shahbaz Nadeem, Mohammed Siraj, Navdeep Saini, Deepak Chahar, Rajneesh Gurbani, Vijay Shankar, KS Bharat (wicket-keeper)

Would love to see Nadeem and Mayank do well in this game. See Vijay sneaking in there. Don't think he should entertain any hopes of Indian test team comeback. He himself blew his chances royally, both on and off the field..

 

[AMSS]

This is what BCCI has to say on this,

""Rohit Sharma has been advised rest by the BCCI Medical Team in consultation with the team management and the All-India Senior Selection Committee. The decision was taken keeping in mind his recent workload," said the BCCI in a statement."

lol, we surely have got our priorities right! Workload!!

This state of affairs simply points to a culture where mediocrity, financial interest, covering one's behind, and outward appearance of care and responsibility has come together to form an unholy mess.

Don't expect strategic planning when Shastri is available to offer his bombast after another flop show in tests.

 

[ind_win]

Even if kohli was not performing, I would have liked kumble to be incharge. Admittedly, all will behave like captain, if the captain throws tantrums. When players do not perform, coach is blamed and captain is blamed next. Why no one questions kohli - a simple 'inquiry' or 'is all is well' is all that is capable by the pathetic board and coa jokers. I so wish dalmia version 2 was in charge of things. He ran cricket like there is no tomorrow. Everyone points fingers at others, no one is ready to take responsibility.

The aus tour could very well decide how kohli carries his team and if he learnt his lessons from his previous mistakes.


The last thing I am worried about shastri is his unsuccessful bollywood flings.
Kohli, through his twitter communication, will not be able to bear any setbacks on the personal front - itseems at the moment . No bad thing should rub off from shastri, than what is already done.

 

[MP2011]

This state of affairs simply points to a culture where mediocrity, financial interest, covering one's behind, and outward appearance of care and responsibility has come together to form an unholy mess.

Don't expect strategic planning when Shastri is available to offer his bombast after another flop show in tests.

Agree.

Indian cricket management is in shambles. But there are some who still can't see anything wrong with Indian cricket.

 

[alricbasil]

yes, you right.

 

[Canford Cliffs]

India got outplayed by a weak England side, who were coming off a 1-1 series against an inexperienced Pakistan team at home. By all accounts, India should have smashed England. But what we saw was total capitulation and a humiliating defeat.

Australia might be weaker than before, but the likes of Shaun Marsh, Mitchell Marsh, Travis Head etc know how to score runs in Australia. Also their bowling attack is fit and raring to go, with Starc, Hazlewood and Cummins forming a frightening bowling attack for Asian teams on Australian wickets. This is going to be tougher than England.

What you are saying is right. Any series with Australia in their den is tough, even though their 2 main batsman missing. A bowling attack of Starc-Cummins-Hazelwood-Lyon is probably one of the best in the world. Though I expect our batters to play well than they did against Anderson & Broad, a series win in Australia would still be very tough.
[MENTION=132916]Junaids[/MENTION] knows it too. But he is setting it up as a 'I told you so' moment incase India wins. And if India lose, he will come in this thread and mock India saying they cant even beat this Aussie team.

Its called art of being always a winner in internet

 

[MP2011]

Aus bowling is still one of the best bowling line ups in world cricket. Don't know how could anyone in their right mind deem India as favorites for this series!

 

[MP2011]

And that coupled with the fact that Indian batting lineup consists of 1.5 batsmen...

 

[giri26]

Smith and Warner's absence for Australia is like India without Kohli and Rohit: Ganguly

Sourav Ganguly has equated the absence of premier Australia batsmen Steve Smith and David Warner from their international squad akin to India missing the services of Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma.

Smith and Warner, along with Cameron Bancroft, will miss the upcoming home Test series against India as they are serving ball-tampering bans. Although Cricket Australia is considering a demand to lift the bans with immediate effect, the prospect of the trio returning for India Tests looks highly unlikely.

India will begin their tour of Australia later this month with a three-match T20I series followed by a four-Test series in December. Ganguly feels their absence makes it a perfect opportunity for India to record their first ever series win on Australian soil.

“This is like the Indian team not having Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli. It’s a huge factor,” Ganguly was quoted as saying by PTI on Wednesday. “It’s a great moment for Indian cricket. This is their best opportunity to beat Australia.”

Despite facing a depleted team, the former India captain has advised India to not take the hosts lightly. “But you also have to keep in mind that Australia in Australia are a different kettle of fish. Many feel that they are a weak outfit but I don’t think so,” Ganguly said.

Under Kohli’s captaincy, India have already lost two overseas Test series in 2018 (in South Africa and England). The first Test against Australia starts from December 6 in Adelaide.

https://www.cricketcountry.com/news...-sharma-and-virat-kohli-sourav-ganguly-765404

 

[Napa]

If Kolhi doesn't win this series, he should be replaced for future series in SENA countries.

 

[Slog]

If Kolhi doesn't win this series, he should be replaced for future series in SENA countries.

As captain you mean?

 

[MP2011]

As captain you mean?

Of course, that goes without saying...

 

[Napa]

As captain you mean?

Yes, that's right.

No, we are not going to send Kohli to Pakistan

 

[Ab Fan]

Sourav Ganguly has equated the absence of premier Australia batsmen Steve Smith and David Warner from their international squad akin to India missing the services of Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma.

Smith and Warner, along with Cameron Bancroft, will miss the upcoming home Test series against India as they are serving ball-tampering bans. Although Cricket Australia is considering a demand to lift the bans with immediate effect, the prospect of the trio returning for India Tests looks highly unlikely.

India will begin their tour of Australia later this month with a three-match T20I series followed by a four-Test series in December. Ganguly feels their absence makes it a perfect opportunity for India to record their first ever series win on Australian soil.

“This is like the Indian team not having Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli. It’s a huge factor,” Ganguly was quoted as saying by PTI on Wednesday. “It’s a great moment for Indian cricket. This is their best opportunity to beat Australia.”

Despite facing a depleted team, the former India captain has advised India to not take the hosts lightly. “But you also have to keep in mind that Australia in Australia are a different kettle of fish. Many feel that they are a weak outfit but I don’t think so,” Ganguly said.

Under Kohli’s captaincy, India have already lost two overseas Test series in 2018 (in South Africa and England). The first Test against Australia starts from December 6 in Adelaide.

https://www.cricketcountry.com/news...-sharma-and-virat-kohli-sourav-ganguly-765404

This is respect to ODI format. In tests, the equivalent are Kohli and Pujara.

 

[MP2011]

For all his struggles in SC, I'd take Warner over Pujara in a heartbeat if given a chance.

 

[Suleiman]

For starters they're all doing p well in the tour game so far with the bat except for the golden boys Rahul and pants.

Maybe Aussies here can tell us if it's a credible bowling attack or nah.

 

[RainMan_]

They will be ridiculed if they fail to win the series against this depleted Australia side.

 

[Marathonrunner]

Discuss.

Only in 2003 when India toured could you say an Asian team had a good chance. India was very strong and more importantly the Aussie side was wrecked with issues with McGrath and Lee injured and Warne banned. India was able to get a 1-1 draw.

In this instance again the best two Aussie players are unavailable and this Aussie team is weak to begin with even with the inclusion of those two

If India dont win this time I doubt any Asian team ever will

Yes now is the best chance for India, bleed blue

 

[Slog]

Let’s go!

 

[Buffet]

For starters they're all doing p well in the tour game so far with the bat except for the golden boys Rahul and pants.

Maybe Aussies here can tell us if it's a credible bowling attack or nah.

Nah, it was poor bowling unit and I won't read much into Indians scoring runs. More worrying sign is no name batsmen were able to score high against Indian bowlers. I suspect Indian bowlers will find it hard to adjust to Aus pitches.

 

[cricketworm]

It's the bowlers who will decide the game. Australia is playing all the right bowlers, however if they get injured then we are talking about India with clear advantage. Literally no one performed other than Kohli in England, hope our other batsmen will support Kohli, only way we can win this.

 

[Slog]

On course to win it

Strong Indian side coupled with this Aussie batting line up was always a good sign

 

[Buffet]

On course to win it

Strong Indian side coupled with this Aussie batting line up was always a good sign

If Aus wins the toss it will be 2-2

 

[Nikhil_cric]

If Aus wins the toss it will be 2-2

Without winning toss , no team can win series in Australia.

 

[Chief Destroyer]

Without winning toss , no team can win series in Australia.

Early congrats on easy series win.

 

[jagatk]

Early congrats on easy series win.

One game still to go, I would not start celebrating yet nor would most Indians.

 

[Slog]

If Aus wins the toss it will be 2-2

Lol you think I can’t figure that out?

I mean the gulf between the sides is too much at this current point that I don’t see Aussies winning

 

[Nikhil_cric]

Early congrats on easy series win.

Hehe . Jinxing?

 

[Buffet]

Lol you think I can’t figure that out?

I mean the gulf between the sides is too much at this current point that I don’t see Aussies winning

There is gulf between these two sides for sure, but is it big enough to overcome toss? I am not sure if it's big enough.

We may see a situation where Aus wins the toss, then it may get interesting. Kohli has not lost a test after winning the toss and this Indian team is strong. So Aus winning toss will set up the last test nicely.

 

[Tusker]

Without winning toss , no team can win series in Australia.

Win Toss *AND* make the right decision to bat/ball. Paine just said in his post match interview that they would have bowled if they had won the toss.

 

[Buffet]

Win Toss *AND* make the right decision to bat/ball. Paine just said in his post match interview that they would have bowled if they had won the toss.

Win toss and bat first.

 

[urnotserious]

People also have a tendency for overrating the Indian batting which btw is highly overrated. You have Pujara whose average is highly padded by his stats in Asia and performs once in a blue-moon outside Asia. Rahane who after his terrific initial form overseas is now fading into a very bad slump. Vijay who is badly out of form, on his last straw and probably only retained his place because of his previous record in Australia. Rahul, whose seriously struggling with consistency and Pant, whose technique could be easily sliced upon by Starc and Hazelwood.

The two batsmen who I actually see succeeding in this series are Kohli and Rohit. Kohli because he's Kohli and Rohit because he's gotten very good against pace and bounce since the last time he toured and I can't imagine a better place for him to bat than Australia where the ball does not swing as much as England, New Zealand or South Africa.

LOL this post hasnt aged well.

 

[Chief Destroyer]

Hehe . Jinxing?

If not now, then never.

 

[Nikhil_cric]

Win Toss *AND* make the right decision to bat/ball. Paine just said in his post match interview that they would have bowled if they had won the toss.

Yeah that's true enough. Was just pointing out that even the great travelling side of recent times - RSA had to win tosses to win a series here recently.

 

[Nikhil_cric]

If not now, then never.

I wouldn't say never but it won't get any easier than this.

 

[Reyansh2017]

Toss is such a big factor now a days with poor batters and good bowling attacks which makes chasing in fourth innings extremely difficult

 

[Sin Nombre]

Win toss and bat first.

Teams batting first haven't done well at SCG in recent years.

 

[Tusker]

So anyone wants to talk about India missing first choice players like Ashwin, Saha, Hardik, Shaw in this series ? Surely thats equal to Aus missing Smith and Warner ?

 

[Tusker]

Win toss and bat first.

Generally yes but not always.

 

[Slog]

So anyone wants to talk about India missing first choice players like Ashwin, Saha, Hardik, Shaw in this series ? Surely thats equal to Aus missing Smith and Warner ?

We both know neither of them is equal to Smith and Warner. That road is better left I ventured

 

[Tusker]

We both know neither of them is equal to Smith and Warner. That road is better left I ventured

both? there is 4 players there and I forgot about Rohit Sharma missing out in Perth.

 

[Tusker]

Scorelines of latest SENA tours:

India in Eng: 1-4 (5)
Pak in Eng: 1-1 (2)

India in Australia: 0-2 (4) [ 2-3 (8) ]
Pak in Australia: 0-3 (3)

India in SA: 1-2 (3)
Pak in SA: 0-3 (3) [ 0-4 (4) ]

India in NZ: 0-1 (2)
Pak in NZ: 0-2 (2)

Loss % for India in last SENA tours - 64%
Loss % for Pak in last SENA tours - 90%

Number of whitewashes for India: 0
Number of whitewashes for Pak: 3

This is how it all adds up.

updated with recent results in RED

Pak lost 10 out of 11 Tests in SENA and won 1
Ind lost 10 out of 14 Tests in SENA and won 4

 

[Slog]

both? there is 4 players there and I forgot about Rohit Sharma missing out in Perth.

Why don’t you include umesh Yadav, Nair as well lol

 

[Tusker]

Why don’t you include umesh Yadav, Nair as well lol

Only included first choice payers that were not available due to injuries and it has two bowlers who are both more than handy batsmen. And this has been a bowlers series.

 

[RamLakhan]

Toss is such a big factor now a days with poor batters and good bowling attacks which makes chasing in fourth innings extremely difficult

India loses tosses in India and most times bats last! But still they win convincingly! Even after giving total advantage to Opposition, still opposition comes up with dismal show & surrender completely like cowards! But you don't want to give any credit for this achievement as playing cricket in India is hardly challenging & not worthy of any kind of mention! In fact India lost a match in India last time convincingly to an opposition when they actually batted last (against Australia last time) But still Indian pitches are rubbish even if they give assistance & chance to teams batting first, second, seam bowlers, swing bowlers, spinners, opposition-spinners, etc!

And when India arrives in the so-called actually challenging SENA countries, still they are criticized for not playing against full-strength teams, toss-advantage, sometimes very Indian like pitches, etc!

 

[WengerOut]

India loses tosses in India and most times bats last! But still they win convincingly! Even after giving total advantage to Opposition, still opposition comes up with dismal show & surrender completely like cowards! But you don't want to give any credit for this achievement as playing cricket in India is hardly challenging & not worthy of any kind of mention! In fact India lost a match in India last time convincingly to an opposition when they actually batted first (against Australia last time) But still Indian pitches are rubbish even if they give assistance & chance to teams batting first, second, seam bowlers, swing bowlers, spinners, opposition-spinners, etc!

And when India arrives in the so-called actually challenging SENA countries, still they are criticized for not playing against full-strength teams, toss-advantage, sometimes very Indian like pitches, etc!

It was actually Australia who batted first at Pune 2017. But I get your point. India lost all but one toss against England but still won 4-0. India is maybe the only home team which does not depend on toss.

 

[shariqnoor]

A series win in Australia is beyond all Asian sides right now. India might win or draw a match though.

India got outplayed by a weak England side, who were coming off a 1-1 series against an inexperienced Pakistan team at home. By all accounts, India should have smashed England. But what we saw was total capitulation and a humiliating defeat.

Australia might be weaker than before, but the likes of Shaun Marsh, Mitchell Marsh, Travis Head etc know how to score runs in Australia. Also their bowling attack is fit and raring to go, with Starc, Hazlewood and Cummins forming a frightening bowling attack for Asian teams on Australian wickets. This is going to be tougher than England.

India should've whitewashed Australia 4-0 here. They should be bitterly disappointed.