India triumph would seal ‘supremacy’
mumbai — A Test series victory over Australia would remove any doubt about India’s status as the best side in the world but it is unlikely to be a cakewalk, according to former England opener Mark Butcher.
Virat Kohli’s side have not lost a home series since late 2012 but have struggled outside the subcontinent, beaten 2-1 in South Africa and 4-1 in England this year alone.
The four-Test series in Australia will be the last chance in 2018 for India to match their formidable home form with success abroad and show why they are the world’s top-ranked side in the longest format of the game.
The touring side have already taken a firm step towards what would be their first series triumph in Australia by winning the opening Test in Adelaide by 31 runs. “India are already the number one side in the world and the one thing that they still have to prove to everybody is that they can win away from home,” Butcher, 46, told Reuters in an interview.
“They had a chance to do it in South Africa, couldn’t manage it. The scoreline in England perhaps was a little bit flattering to England but still they lost 4-1.
“They still have to get that monkey off their back of not being able to win away from home, outside of the subcontinent. This would be absolutely huge and they will be undisputedly the best side in the world if they do it.” Winning a Test series in Australia is still among the toughest tasks in cricket and India have returned empty-handed from their previous 11 attempts over the last 70 years, winning just five out of 44 Tests Down Under. —