Xtra Time Web Desk: Former Pakistan great and legendary fast bowler Wasim Akram has predicted Australia will start as favourites for the series coming up against India Down Under. Virat Kohli and his boys will be travelling to Australia to take part in a series involving 3 ODIs, 3 T20Is and 4 tests.
“I think Australia’s fast bowling is the best in the world. They have Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood and other top-class bowlers. It will be a close contest but I would say Australia start off as favourites,” Akram said in an interview to ‘Cricket Baaz’ channel on Youtube.
The former Pakistani fast bowler also heaped huge praises on the current crop of Indian fast bowlers led by Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Shami.
“Mohammad Shami, Bumrah, (Navdeep) Saini and others they are good,” said Akram.
Akram also pointed out the confident demeanours of Indian players when they take the field.
“Indian team has got a lot of confidence. Their body language has changed. As a team they have confidence in themselves just like when we used to enter the ground in the 90s. They look like they believe in themselves and the hard work they are putting in.”
He quipped, ‘Indian players thode badmash ho gaye hai’.”
The Indian squad leaves for Australia immediately after the IPL ends in the UAE. India won the Test series 2-1 when they toured Australia in 2018 but it was against a side which was missing Steve Smith and David Warner because of the ball-tampering ban.
Akram agreed that Smith and Warner would add a lot of strength to the Australian batting but also maintained a lot will depend on the pitches.
“When the Kookaburra ball gets old you have to think about how to keep runs down as the wickets are tough to come by.”