At the moment, Australia is under pressure with ball-tampering saga: Michael Clarke

India is favorite to win in Australia, says Michael Clarke.

India will play four Tests in Australia from November - January 2018 | Getty Images

Following the suspension of Steve Smith, David Warner, and Cameron Bancroft, Australia need to quickly build-up before the upcoming tough India series, suggested Michael Clarke on Tuesday (24 April).

While admitting Australia is currently under pressure after losing their match-winners Smith and Warner, and ball-tampering saga, Clarke feels that the current national side needs to find out a way to build a side which can beat the high-flying Virat Kohli –led Indian side later this year at home.

As per reports in Press Trust of India, Clarke said at a book launch, “Australia is under pressure at the moment with everything that has happened. They need to try and work out what their team is going to be. They need to find a way and start to rebuild really quickly because it is a massive series considering we have never lost to India in Australia. So the current team needs to figure out how they are going to build on that success and beat a really good Indian team.”

Recently, Ian Chappell had suggested that it will be great chance for India to win maiden Test series Down Under in Australia, who will be without Smith and Warner during the series, though Clarke also believes that India is favorite to win here but with their supremacy not the absence of the duo.

But Clarke feels it is unfair to say about India like this, as they have individual match winners who can win here, while Australia is still able to pose a tough challenge to the hosts without Smith and Warner.

The 2015 World Cup winning skipper further said, “There's no doubt that losing Smith, Warner and Bancroft is going to hurt Australia. But I would hate to see that if India do have success in Australia for it to be taken away due to the absence of the three players. I don't think that is fair to the Indian team. India are a great team and they have had success individually in terms of players who are going to be on that tour. They know the conditions there really well.”

He also opined that there are high chances of Kohli and his brigade to win the upcoming Test series in England as well. Clarke signed off by saying, “I certainly think that they are in for a great chance to win in England as well. If India can beat England in England, they go to Australia with so much confidence, that it is going to be really hard to beat them at home (in Australia).”

 
 

By Rashmi Nanda - 24 Apr, 2018

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