AUS vs IND 2018: Josh Hazlewood expects tough India series without Steve Smith and David Warner

Team India will tour Australia in November this year.

Australia ready to give a tough fight to India, says Hazlewood | Getty Images

Australia will be without their match-winners Steve Smith and David Warner against India, but their premier pacer Josh Hazlewood is expecting a tough fight from the hosts against the Men in Blue in the much-awaited series later this year at home.

He further said that India “probably think this is their best chance of upsetting Australia” without Warner and Smith, but the hosts are pretty confident and expect a tough series when they will take on Virat Kohli and his boys in a full-fledged series comprising with 3 T20Is, 4 Tests and 3 ODIs in November.

Hazlewood told cricket.com.au, “It's going to be a tough series, as it always is against India. We've got the wood on them here in Australia but they probably think this is their best chance of upsetting us. We're going to be a few senior batsmen short heading into this series and they probably sense a bit of a weakness and (will) try to make the most of that.”

He further added, “We're pretty confident here at home. We put it up to them in India and we had chances to take the series but eventually lost it 2-1. Hopefully, we get back on top of them here.”

The fast bowler also believes that young Australian batsmen have a great chance to bring out their best cricket by playing the upcoming five Sheffield Shield matches to catch selector's eye before the Test series against India.

Hazlewood signed off by saying, “Hopefully they (aspiring batsmen) can relax a bit knowing they could potentially have 10 hits rather than one or two Shield games and then the selectors pick the team. Hopefully, that brings out their best cricket and a few young guys put their hand up. It will give the batters a good chance to get a lot of match practice under their belts. You can train in the nets as much as you like but if you're getting that match practice, five games is a lot.”

 
 

By Rashmi Nanda - 25 Jun, 2018

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