Kohli’s India will continue to get better in Tests: Hussey
EXPERT SPEAK Aussie says no disgrace losing to Proteas in SA as most visiting teams are struggling ST MORITZ:
Former Australia cricketer Michael Hussey does not read much into world No 1 India’s Test series defeat in South Africa, as he cites travelling woes almost all teams grapple with when they are on the road.
India entered last month’s Freedom Series against South Africa as favourites, but were hammered in the first two Tests which dented their image as a team that could not live up to its reputation.
But Hussey does not want to read much into India’s overseas Test woes — having won only against West Indies and Sri Lanka in away series this decade — and says Virat Kohli’s team will get better.
“They (India) are a fantastic team. It is no disgrace losing to South Africa in South Africa; you see a lot of teams travelling and the away teams struggle. We saw England struggle in the Ashes, we see Australia struggle when they go to England, and we see Australia struggling in India and India when (they) come in Australia,” he said.
“Away teams find it hard. India have a fantastic team, very well led by Virat Kohli, and they will continue to get better,” added Hussey after the conclusion of the St Moritz Ice Cricket event.
While India have had several IPL stars such as Jasprit Bumrah and Hardik Pandya graduating to playing Test cricket, Australia are still unable to find talent which can deliver in the shortest format at the international level.
Admitting that Australia did not take T20 cricket as seriously as the others at the start, Hussey hoped for a better future. “I know it is something very important to the Australian team. We haven’t won the T20 trophy before, so we are keen to do well. We have some very good players coming through, hoping that we can be right up there to fight for it,” he said.
“I think we are definitely growing quickly in the T20 game. When T20 first started we were behind, we didn’t take it seriously. Other countries were probably a little bit ahead of us, but now I’m hoping (that) Australians are catching up,” he added.
“We have seen some outstanding performances throughout the Big Bash and now that there is a tri-series on, Australia have played some of those Big Bash players like D’Arcy Short. AJ (Andrew) Tye has been good; he has come into the ODI team. I would not be surprised if there is a bit of flow-on effect from here. I’d expect it to start happening a bit more in the future,” he added. Won Season *1 ODI left Lost Matches N/R Stats: S PERVEZ QAISER Season Draw Matches