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Australia will host India in a crunch five-match Test series with the first game to begin on November 22.
Mohammed Shami aimed to make a comeback to the Indian team in Border-Gavaskar Trophy but was unsuccessful. (Photo: X)
New Delhi: In Mohammed Shami’s absence India will find it hard to bowl out Australia twice in a Test match, says Ricky Ponting, who predicts a 3-1 win in the five-match series for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy for the home side.
Australia will host India in a crunch series with the first game to begin on November 22. Both teams are in contention to qualify for the World Test Championship final.
The Aussies have lost the last four Border-Gavaskar series, including two at their home soil and are keen to end a barren run that stretches till 2014-15.
They have been given a shot in the arm after India crashed to an unprecedented 0-3 loss to New Zealand at home, which makes Ponting believe that Australia are better placed now to win.
“Probably more so now (than before),” Ponting said on the ICC Review Show, when asked to evalutate Australia’s chances in the series.
‘Shami’s absence big hole’
India’s star pacer Mohammed Shami’s absence from the series with injury weakens the visiting team considerably, the load falling mostly on Jasprit Bumrah to lead the attack including Mohammed Siraj, Akash Deep, Prasidh Krishna and the uncapped Harshit Rana.
“Shami just leaves such a big hole in that bowling group. Back then (in August), there was still some conjecture whether Shami would be fit or not.”
“I think taking 20 wickets in a Test match for India is going to be the biggest challenge. I think they’ll bat well enough out here with the current group of batters that they’ve got.”
As India will not be a pushover, they will have their chances in the series, Ponting predicted.
“I think India will win a Test match somewhere through the five Test matches. But I still think now, Australia probably look a bit more settled, a bit more experienced and we know that they’re a very hard team to beat at home. So I’ll stick with the 3-1,” the former Australia skipper said.
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