Australia vs India 2018: Hard to Imagine First Test is Not at Gabba - Shane Watson

Unlike every season, Cricket Austalia has scheduled their first Test at Adelaide. Usually, Australian summer would start with the game at Gabba, but it isn’t the case this time, as they are set to begin their season from Adelaide. Meanwhile, it didn’t impress Shane Watson, who used to watch the first day of Australian summer every year right from his childhood in Brisbane.

However, Shane Watson quoted the Gabba wicket would have been helpful for the hosts, as it gives bounce to the fast bowlers. He termed Adelaide has got the placid wicket, which doesn’t have a swing as well.

”From my perspective, it’s hard to imagine that the first Test of the series is not at Gabba. I grew up in Brisbane, so I used to go to the first day of the Test all the time. It’s strange that the first Test is not in Brisbane because Gabba’s pace, bounce and swing against the away team is always an advantage. Adelaide is a bit more placid, there’s not much swing and could be much more of a contest,” he quoted.

India is going to find it hard – Shane Watson

Shane Watson feels playing Australia in Australia is always a tough ask for any opposition. However, he thinks this would be the best chance for India with the absence of Warner and Smith. However, Watson is sure that India isn’t going to get that easily.

“Playing Australia in Australia is very tough but having said that this is India’s best chance to win, especially because (Steve) Smith and (David) Warner are missing,” he said. “But India are going to find it really hard to win even with their incredible batting line-up and fast bowling resources being probably the best that they have had in a while coming to Australia.

“Still with the wickets the way they are — the pace and bounce, we are accustomed to playing here as well, so that doesn’t make things easy for the Indians. India’s fast bowling resources are equally strong as well. (Jasprit) Bumrah has good speed and is a little bit different with his angle. He is not your typical outswing bowler, provides bit more all-roundness to the bowling.,” he inferred.

Well, as Shane Watson said, it is always tough to beat the Australians in their backyard. However, team India has got the ingredients in them to make things happen this time.