Test defeats a wakeup call before 2019 World Cup: Dean Jones

MUMBAI: Former Australian cricketer Dean Jones said India’s current debacle in England should be an eye opener for Virat Kohli’s ahead of the 2019 World Cup in UK where they might opt to play a few extra practice games to get accustomed to conditions.

Jones, who has an impressive batting average of 70.75 in his six Tests in England, stated: “Maybe they (India) needed this before a World Cup coming up. Maybe a couple of more practice matches before the World Cup in England… Maybe prepare a bit better?”

India had also lost the preceding three-match ODI series and although the World Cup is still nine months away, the side has been caught napping in seaming conditions. While bowlers have gone about their task well, picking 87 of the last possible 90 wickets in the past five Tests against South Africa and England, the side’s average total in those matches is a meagre 188.7 — having been dismissed for less than 200 on six occasions.

“The stats prove that the ball moved in this Test match more than any other Test match in the last three years anywhere in the world. And you have two-three of the best persons going around. Especially (James) Anderson. Unfortunately, they walked into a storm. And they just couldn’t get out of it,” Jones on the sidelines of a Star Sports event in Mumbai.

However, despite the uninspiring figures so far, Jones backed the Indian side as a “fantastic unit” and pipped them to bounce back and do well.

“One bad game doesn’t make it a bad side. Not at all,” he said. I’d like to have your team compared to our team at the moment. I personally feel you’ll belt Australia in Australia. No (David) Warner, no (Steve) Smith. Who’s going to make runs against you? I’m expecting Ravichandran (Ashwin) to run through us.”

India are scheduled to play three T20 internationaIs, four Tests and three ODIs in Australia later this year.