Former Australian fast bowler Brett Lee is super excited for the upcoming mouth-watering Border-Gavaskar Trophy between Australia and India later this year.
The top two teams are scheduled to play four Tests to be played at Gabba, Adelaide Oval, MCG, and the SCG respectively starting December 3. They will also play three T20Is and as many as ODIs as well.
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Last year, the Indian cricket team got the better of Tim Paine and his team and created history by winning their maiden Test series in Australia under captain Virat Kohli – who himself described India’s 2-1 win in the four-match Test series as the best achievement of his career.
In clinical fashion to expose the immense void left by Steve Smith and David Warner due to the duo’s suspensions for the ball-tampering scandal, India clinched the Border-Gavaskar trophy in style.
Well, the teams are yet again scheduled to revive their Test rivalry and Lee believes that the hosts Australia will definitely want revenge when Kohli and his team travel Down Under later this year.
The former pacer also suggested the Australian bowlers come up with ‘clear concise plans’ against Kohli if they want to take the revenge of their last defeat in the high-profile Test series.
However, it will be certainly a daunting task for India to replicate the performance and script another iconic victory to defend Border-Gavaskar Trophy on Australian soil especially with the return of David Warner and Steve Smith in their armory and Lee also admitted the same.
Lee told IANS, “To me, it's one of the best series that you can look forward to. Australia will definitely want revenge but I know that India will come out and play their style of cricket which could definitely put Australia on the ropes. I personally think Australia will be too strong on home soil.”
He further added, “He is obviously a world-class player and Australia will have to make sure they’ve got clear concise plans to bowl to him. I think if they can put him under pressure early in the series that will allow maybe Australia to go on top of him.”
Praising Indian pacers who were the key behind their last historic Test win in Australia, Lee said: “I think with their height and agility they are able to bowl in all conditions, but it looked as though they are really up for the contest.”
Last year, Jasprit Bumrah ended the series with 21 wickets and he is now an integral part of the Indian pace battery across formats but his short bowling run-up is a cause of concern for the pacer.
Reacting to the same, Lee signed off by saying, “I think it's a matter of him keeping strong and doing what works for him. Obviously, with a short run-up, it does put a lot of pressure on your body but at the moment it looks as though it's working for him.”
(With IANS Inputs)
