Australia’s assistant coach Andrew McDonald will be cheering for England against India in the upcoming fourth and final Test starting March 4 for “self-interest” as if Joe Root’s men defeat the hosts in Ahmedabad, then the Aussies will qualify for the World Test Championship final.
Australia and England are fierce cricketing rivals but this time they are following the English side for the first time in a long time as their hopes of qualifying for the final of the ICC World Test Championship depends on the outcome of the ongoing four-match Test series in India.
At the moment, India is leading 2-1 in the ongoing Test series at home and if England manages to outsmart the high-flying hosts in the final Test on Thursday, it would knock Team India out of the race.
It would also put Australia in the final of the inaugural World Test Championship against New Zealand and McDonald hopes Joe Root’s team would be able to do the job for them.
McDonald told reporters: “Bit of self-interest there, isn't it, for us following England for the first time in a long time. We'll be hoping that they can do the job there.”
England is now out of the race for the World Test Championship final after they suffered a crushing 10 wicket defeat at the hands of India in the day-night Test in Ahmedabad last week.
In the recent third Test, a total of 30 wickets fell in five sessions in Ahmedabad and McDonald hopes England to do well in the final Test even if the Motera pitch behaves similar to the pink-ball Test.
He added, “It's going to be difficult, no doubt. Some of the surfaces they've played on are conducive to spin bowling and probably India's strengths are in their ability to play spin as well. We wish (England) well, see what unfolds. It's out of our hands, but we'll be watching on with interest.”
McDonald said Australia would not rest Test players from the forthcoming ICC T20 World Cup 2021 to be held in India in October-November to keep them fresh for the Ashes 2021.
He signed off by saying, “I'd say that if they're in ... that best T20 squad, then they'll be there and we just have to work out ways how to prepare those guys.”
(With Reuters Inputs)
