It is known that the Test series between India and Australia will start from February 9. In this order, Australia started a mind game against the Indian players before the start of the series.
India Vs Australia 1st Test
Australian batsman Usman Khawaja, who impressed with his bat last year, believes that the Test series against India will be a tough challenge for his team. He described the Indian spinners as a big challenge. Usman especially said that R Ashwin will become a villain against Australia. He started teasing before the start of the series saying that R Ashwin will be a big threat for us, he is a cannon. Born in Pakistan, Khawaja arrived in India late rather than with the team due to delay in getting a visa. Usman Khawaja will open the innings along with David Warner.
Facing Ravichandran Ashwin’s bowling in Test cricket in the last decade has not been an easy task, especially in India. Talking about Ashwin’s record on home grounds, he has taken 312 wickets in 51 Test matches in India at an average of 21.16. Keeping this in mind, Australia’s opening batsman Usman Khawaja made an interesting revelation before the start of the Border-Gavaskar Test series.
Khawaja played limited overs cricket in India. But now he got a chance to play Test. He was a member of the 2013, 2017 Test squad. Australia’s performance will depend on Khawaja, who was recently named Australia’s Test Cricketer of the Year. Australia have not won a Test series in India since 2004-05. Khawaja said, ‘It is a different feeling. There are no guarantees in this game. But, there will be more maturity in batting and bowling,’ he said.
Tour of India is very difficult – Usman
Usman Khawaja told the Sydney Morning Herald, ‘We have learned a lot in the last ten years. We are in a better position than before. But, the series is very tough. Australia decided not to play a warm-up match before the Test series. Instead it is better to practice on spinner friendly pitches near Bangalore. We see Ashwin as the biggest threat. We are taking the help of such bowlers to be ready to face him,” he said.
Ashwin is a cannon..
Khawaja said, ‘Ashwin is a cannon. He has a lot of skill. He has many varieties. It will be a challenge to face him. The wicket turns on the third or fourth day. He bowls a lot of overs. Let’s see how we will run in front of him. He said that if the wicket is good, it will be very easy to play the new ball, but if the spinners are handling the new ball when the pitch breaks, it will become very difficult for India to bat.
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