Tour games waste of time: Waugh
Virat Kohli starred for India in the last Test series in Australia in 2014-15. The hosts won 2-0, but Kohli amassed 692 runs, averaging 86.50 starting with two sensational centuries at Adelaide.
Former Australia skipper Steve Waugh has picked Kohli as the danger man for the hosts again. “He is a great player and loves these big moments. He is like Tendulkar and Lara. They wait for these series and that’s where they want to show their best. He will be the danger man for Australia straightway,” he told ESPNCricinfo.
Australia are weakened without Steve Smith and David Warner. “Actually, India have quite a rounded team and they will see this as a significant chance,” he said. “They would have prepared for this tour for a long time. It’s quite exciting, it’s going to be a really close series.”
India were criticised for a lack of preparation after Test series losses in South Africa and England. But Waugh feels play-
India lost 0-2, but Virat Kohli was sensational, scoring four centuries starting with 115 and 141 in the Adelaide classic, and amassing 692 runs.
MUMBAI:
ing warm-up games make little sense unless host Boards field strong sides.
“Warm-up games around the world is a waste of time. Australia went to Dubai and played a practice game in which there was no spinner. The home country has an obligation to put a proper team for practice matches and that has not happened.”
“We used to get many matches… Now warm up games are a waste of time as home coun- try puts up a side that is irrelevant to the test series. That is why teams lose the first away Test, and once you lose that, it’s hard to win the series,” he said.
The tour will also pit off-spinner R Ashwin and Nathan Lyon. The Aussie tweaker took 23 wickets in four Tests in 2014-15. Ashwin managed only 12 wickets in three matches.
“Nathan is a great competitor. He has got great attitude.He is a world-class bowler.”