India’s lone triple centurion itching to go after the spinners
NEW DELHI: India could thrash Australia 3-1 in the Test series if the matches are played on turning tracks, opener Virender Sehwag said on Monday.
“If we play on spin-friendly tracks, the series might go 3-1 in our favour,” the former India captain told a TV channel on Monday.
“We are the only side to have beaten them in Australia twice. We thrashed them in Perth and before that in Adelaide.
“So we are accepting the challenge and we will fight it out. Hopefully, we will do well and reclaim the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.”
Of the 22 Tests played for the Trophy so far, Australia have won 10 and India eight, with four draws.
Sehwag, the only Indian to have smashed triple centuries, is the key to the hosts’ fortunes in the four-Test series starting in Bangalore on Thursday.
“I am in good nick at the moment and looking forward to this series. I hope I do well because it’s against the Aussies and everybody knows it’s a tough task to get runs against them.”
The swashbuckling batsman singled out Australia’s spin department as the weak link.
“In my opinion, they have a quality pace attack but lack quality spin bowling. I have seen their off-spinner (Jason Krejza) who gave away 123 runs in 20 overs (in the first innings) against the Board President’s XI,” he said.
“I think we will go after him.”
The 29-year-old opener, however, said it would be a mistake to read too much into Australia’s below-par performance in the drawn tour game at Hyderabad over the weekend.
“In a practice game, you don’t give your 100 percent, you are just practising for the Test match and are not worried about the result,” he said.
“I think the Aussies got what they wanted out of the game and they are ready for the Tests.”
