The team that will have its bowling line-up in shape and free of injuries will come out on top in the much-awaited battle between Australia and India, feels Australia's champion ex-cricketer Adam Gilchrist.
In India as the ambassador of the University of Wollongong, Gilchrist refrained from making any predictions but felt the bowlers' form and fitness may decide who ends up on top in the four-match Test series that begins on Boxing Day. "It's a series that's quite difficult to predict … evenly matched teams. Both more experienced in their batting line-ups than bowling line-ups,” said Gilchrist. “I think whichever bowling line-up settles the most and remains injury-free – that’s been a big issue for both countries with the amount of injuries to their bowling line-ups - will probably go a long way to win the series.
The former Aussie wicketkeeper-batsman said that none of the two teams start as favourites in a series that begins on an even keel. "It's hard for me to separate the teams at the moment. But it will be great to watch. It's going to be an intriguing series."
On being quizzed about whether the Australians will feel happy to see the back of Harbhajan Singh, who has not been considered for the Test series, Gilchrist said Harbhajan would be missed. "I have always found Harbhajan a wonderful guy to play cricket against. His fighting qualities are admirable. He never takes a backward step. He will be missed in the series, but [Pragyan] Ojha and [Ravichandran] Ashwin have come in and set quite high standards in terms of results and have done a very good job in the bowling department."
Gilchrist - arguably the best wicketkeeper-batsman the game has ever seen - said the 2001 Test series between the two countries went a long way in making India and Australia the modern-day cricketing rivals. "In 2001, I don't remember a huge hype or intensity but that was one of the best Test series ever. I don't think anyone was aware of what was around the corner at the start of that series. So that was part of the contributing factor of what is now a terrific rivalry between the two countries."
In India as the ambassador of the University of Wollongong, Gilchrist refrained from making any predictions but felt the bowlers' form and fitness may decide who ends up on top in the four-match Test series that begins on Boxing Day. "It's a series that's quite difficult to predict … evenly matched teams. Both more experienced in their batting line-ups than bowling line-ups,” said Gilchrist. “I think whichever bowling line-up settles the most and remains injury-free – that’s been a big issue for both countries with the amount of injuries to their bowling line-ups - will probably go a long way to win the series.
The former Aussie wicketkeeper-batsman said that none of the two teams start as favourites in a series that begins on an even keel. "It's hard for me to separate the teams at the moment. But it will be great to watch. It's going to be an intriguing series."
On being quizzed about whether the Australians will feel happy to see the back of Harbhajan Singh, who has not been considered for the Test series, Gilchrist said Harbhajan would be missed. "I have always found Harbhajan a wonderful guy to play cricket against. His fighting qualities are admirable. He never takes a backward step. He will be missed in the series, but [Pragyan] Ojha and [Ravichandran] Ashwin have come in and set quite high standards in terms of results and have done a very good job in the bowling department."
Gilchrist - arguably the best wicketkeeper-batsman the game has ever seen - said the 2001 Test series between the two countries went a long way in making India and Australia the modern-day cricketing rivals. "In 2001, I don't remember a huge hype or intensity but that was one of the best Test series ever. I don't think anyone was aware of what was around the corner at the start of that series. So that was part of the contributing factor of what is now a terrific rivalry between the two countries."
No comments:
Post a Comment