Aussie way of cricket no longer best as they don’t have bench strength
Former India cricketer VVS Laxman says it’s never easy travelling overseas and playing against the home side, although he is confident that if this Virat Kohli-led side plays to potential, it can beat Australia. “I am not saying this because Steve Smith and David Warner are not there. I am saying this because of the potential the team has,” said Laxman, who was in Mumbai for the release of his book “281 And Beyond”, co-authored by R Kaushik.
His mantra: Batsmen should start the Test series with a big total and they will be runaway winners. His prediction: India 3, Australia 1.
Excerpts:
What should a batsman do to excel in Australia?
Though the wickets have become slower from the 19992000 days, there is still extra pace and bounce (compared to other places). You have to get used to it, know the length from where you can leave the ball; know the length from where you can play on the front foot. I have seen, if players have a positive mindset, only then can they succeed in Australia.
You have maintained there was extra motivation to do well against Australia because they were the best. Does the state of Australian cricket sadden you?
It has come as a surprise because I still remember in the 1999-2000 series we lost against Queensland in three days’ time, and I was surprised to see the quality of first-class teams in Australia. But on my 2003-04, 2007-08 tours, I felt the quality of their first-class cricket was going down. Australia always had great bench strength because there was a time when the Australia A side beat the Australia
senior side in whiteball cricket. That is missing now. There is no bench strength. That’s where we (Indians) are fortunate. There are so many options available for each and every skill-set.
Unfortunately, in Australia that is not evident. At one time, the Australian way of cricket, of team and structure, was the best. I don’t think it is the best in the world (now), because of which they don’t have the bench strength.
Is the team dependent on Virat Kohli?
It should not be; there is enough talent in the team. What we saw in England, Kohli had to do the bulk of the scoring, which, I am hoping, will not happen in Australia because we want other batsmen to contribute. Kohli is at the top of his game.
Will it be an advantage for India
to start in Adelaide, given that it has a better batting wicket?
It is always an advantage to start in Adelaide but I think it is important that the Indian batsmen get hundreds in the first match itself. I have seen that whenever we’ve started well in the first Test, we’ve gone on to score a lot of runs.
And once that happens, the home team is under pressure, so starting well with the bat is crucial. Posting a big total in the first innings will be crucial. There is class, quality and potential in this batting line-up and I am sure they will post big totals.
Would you have liked to see Steve Smith and David Warner in action against India?
You will always miss Warner and Smith. Having said that, every Board has its own priorities, and at the moment the priority for Cricket Australia is to make sure the players take notice of their attitude and their approach.
› Posting a big total in the first innings will be crucial. There is class, quality and potential in this batting lineup and they will post big totals. On the first Test in Adelaide