There is a lot of excitement around India’s upcoming Test tour of Australia. The two teams are slated to square off in a five-match Test series, starting November 22 in Perth.

India have won the last two Test series Down Under, while they have held onto the coveted Border-Gavaskar Trophy since March 2017.

However, former opener Matthew Hayden expects the Aussies to change their fortunes this time around. He tipped the Pat Cummins-led side to clinch the series 3-1.

“I think Australia is going to win 3-1,” Hayden said on Club Prairie Fire podcast.

He acknowledged the strength of the Indian team, naming key players who could influence the series outcome.

“The form of Smith, Virat Kohli, Pat Cummins’s bowling and captaincy form, and Jasprit Bumrah’s form will define the series,” he added.

Australia face a challenge in replacing opener David Warner, who retired from Test cricket earlier this year. The hosts have opted to debut newcomer Nathan McSweeney as opener alongside Usman Khawaja for the BGT.

Other potential replacements considered included Sam Konastas, Marcus Harris, and Cameron Bancroft.

“David Warner was a once-in-a-lifetime athlete and hard to replace. He is a very hard person to replace. I really hope Nathan does well,” Hayden remarked.

After the first Test in Perth, the action will shift to Adelaide (December 6-10), where both teams will face each other in a Day-Night Test. The last three Tests are set to take place in Brisbane (December 14-18), Melbourne (December 26-30), and Sydney (January 3-7).