India Face 4-0 Rout in Australia, Predicts Glenn McGrath
India will play a four-Test series starting December 4 in Brisbane. Australia have a formidable record at the Gabba. India last won a Test series outside the sub-continent when they beat West Indies in 2011.
- NDTVSports
- Updated: November 20, 2014 04:38 pm IST
© NDTV
Australia may sweat over Michael Clarke's fitness, but that will not stop them from routing India in the upcoming Test series, feels former Aussie spearhead Glenn McGrath. (Dhoni to Miss Brisbane Test)
"I have no issues with saying I think it'll be 4-0," McGrath said in an interview to the Sydney Morning Herald.
While there are questions on the form of Australian batsmen after the dismal show against Pakistan in UAE, Mahendra Singh Dhoni's boys are not exactly favourites ahead of the first Test that starts in Brisbane on December 4.(India Rule Sri Lanka)
Indian players have always struggled against the extra pace and bounce on Australian wickets. The numbers are a clear indication of the way things have gone -- just two wins in 23 Tests since 1985. Both victories were produced by a star-studded team that had the likes of Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid and VVS Laxman.(Lokesh Rahul: A New Era)
McGrath was not happy with the way India fell apart on the tour of England earlier this year. He also reminded everyone about Australia's 5-0 drubbing of England in the Ashes in 2013-14.(Naman Feels he is at his Best)
"The way the Australian team played last season over here, they were awesome. If they can get anywhere near that, they'll win and win quite convincingly. I saw India play the last three Test matches in the UK and by the end of it, they were a bit of a rabble," said the former pacer. (Team India Says no to Spices)
He feels that the trio of Mitchell Johnson, Ryan Harris and Peter Siddle will be too hot to handle for the Indian batsmen. A grim reminder for the visitors is that their last tour ended in a 4-0 whitewash against Clarke's men. Only the last Test made it to the fifth day.
India are a good limited overs team, feels McGrath, but he highlighted the fact that they need to improve in Tests, especially on the bouncy wickets in Australia. (Watch: India Will Lose 4-0, McGrath tells NDTV)
"Historically, they've never played well with a bit of bounce and seam. They're going to have their work cut out for them. They've got to turn things around big time otherwise they're going to get thumped over here," McGrath said.
McGrath also pointed out how one-sided the contests were as the home team always had the conditions in their favour. "It's been a one-sided recent series. We won 4-0 over here, they won 4-0 over there. Potentially, I think, it's going to be exactly the same when they come here," he emphasised.
India's best performance in a Test series Down Under is the 1-1 draw in 2003-04 under Sourav Ganguly's captaincy when they retained the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. They have won just five Test matches on Australian soil.
India last won a Test series outside the sub-continent when they beat West Indies in 2011. The last five overseas Test tours have ended in defeat for the Indian team - two in England (2011 and 2014), 1 in Australia (2011-12), 1 in South Africa (2013) and 1 in New Zealand (2014).