Atherton also believes India has a well-balanced batting unit in Tests.
India's current pace attack comprising Ishant Sharma, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammad Shami, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, and Umesh Yadav is possibly one of the best of all-time in the history of cricket.
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Given the fearsome pace battery, former England captain and commentator Michael Atherton believes India will have a great chance to defend the Border-Gavaskar Trophy in Australia later this year.
Team India is scheduled to play four Tests in Australia later this year and Atherton feels India is “quite well-placed” to challenge the hosts in the forthcoming series due to their well-settled top order and a strong bowling attack while praising India’s best-ever pace attack in Tests.
Atherton said on the Sony Ten Pit Stop Show: “What really should give India hope is the strength of the bowling attack. It’s very difficult to win in Australia without a strong seam attack. One of the great things in the last few years about Indian cricket is seeing this sea change in terms of the quality of fast bowlers they’ve produced. When I played in India in ‘93, it was completely spin-based. They obviously had good fast bowlers back then but I don’t think it was of the same depth they have now.”
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On batting, the Englishman pointed out: “[Mayank] Agarwal... what does he average? 55 or something after a dozen Test matches? Rohit Sharma averages 46 after 30 odd Tests. Then you’ve got back-up openers like Prithvi Shaw, KL Rahul. Seems to me India is quite well-placed. Pujara is a fabulous player. India is about to go to Australia.”
He signed off by saying, “That top of the order is so important in Australia because if you can have a solid, successful start there, as soon as that Kookaburra ball loses its shine, you can have some lovely batting conditions there. That opening position, the No. 3 position offering a solid base is really important. I would have thought that Sharma and Agarwal would open, followed by Pujara at 3 and then Kohli and beyond and that’s the way India will go.”
(With Hindustan Times Inputs)