Glenn Maxwell
Glenn Maxwell (Credits - Getty)

Superstar Australian all-rounder, Glenn Maxwell has warned the Indian team of how threatening his teammate — Steve Smith can be with the bat, especially against the visitors.

Steve Smith and David Warner missed the series against India in 2018-19 as the duo was banned for a year owing to their involvement in the ball-tampering event in South Africa. Both of them returned and played a vital role in Australia’s success in the Ashes and the World Cup last year in England. The former Australian skipper averaged 74 in Test in 2019 and averages 58 in ODIs in 2020.

Steve Smith
Steve Smith (Credits: Twitter)

Smith has always scored runs against India: Glenn Maxwell

With less than a week from the first contest between the two sides, Glenn Maxwell has started verbal volleys towards the visitors. Talking to the broadcaster, Sony, Maxwell said that the return of Steve Smith had bolstered their side. The 32-year-old feels that Smith’s return is a big plus to Australia, and will be a big headache for the Virat Kohli’s bowlers.

The ‘Big Show’ also observed that Smith had scored a lot of runs against the men in blue in the past. For a fact, Glenn Maxwell is correct. Smith averages 84 against India in Tests, with 7 tons in 10 matches and 60 in ODIs, including a hundred in the 2015 World Cup semifinal. Maxwell would also like to return to form after a forgettable IPL season with the bat.

Speaking with Sony network, Glenn Maxwell said, “To have someone like Steve Smith coming back in our side, it is going to be a big plus for us, a big headache for India. Smith has always scored runs against them.”

Australia vs India 2020-21: Steve Smith's Return Is A Plus For Us, Headache For The Visitors - Glenn Maxwell
Steve Smith roars after scoring a century. (Credits: Twitter)

Australia will host India for six white-ball games and four Test matches. The 3-match ODI series commences on 27th November followed by 3 T20Is.  The high-intensity Border-Gavaskar series will begin on 17th December with a day-night Test in Adelaide followed by the Boxing Day Test in Melbourne, New Year’s Test in Sydney, and the last Test match in Australia’s fortress, Brisbane.

Virat Kohli, Gautam Gambhir, India, New Zealand
Virat Kohli. (Credits: Twitter)

India won the Test and ODI series on their previous tour down under. Virat Kohli’s team dominated with both bat and ball. However, the team is under pressure after injuries and unavailabilities of some players.

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Ishant Sharma, Wriddhiman Saha, and Rohit Sharma are recovering from injuries they suffered in the IPL. Captain, Virat Kohli will miss out on the last three Test matches as he will leave for home to attend the birth of his first child. KL Rahul is named as vice-captain in white-ball cricket, and Ajinkya Rahane is likely to step in as the interim skipper for the last three Test matches.

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