This Could Be 4-0: Michael Vaughan Predicts Winner Of Border-Gavaskar Trophy
Published - 12 Dec 2020, 11:39 PM | Updated - 23 Aug 2024, 12:38 AM
As India and Australia gear up to lock horns in the much-anticipated four-match Test series from next week, former England skipper Michael Vaughan has predicted the winner. The Border-Gavaskar Test series gets underway with the historic first-ever day-night Test between the two countries from December 17 in Adelaide.
India are the reigning Border-Gavaskar champions, having won the last two series by a similar margin of 2-1. In 2017, they won the series at home before retaining the trophy with a historic series Down Under in 2018/19 season. It was India’s first-ever Test series win on the Australian soil.
The Virat Kohli-led side will be eyeing to put up a similar performance in the upcoming series. However, Michael Vaughan believes Australia will be the favourites and might whitewash the visitors. Michael Vaughan stated that Australia will go on to win the series if they win the first Test.
“India will have to see off that trio of Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazelwood and Pat Cummins, they have to nullify that kookaburra new ball. If not, Australia will prove to be too strong and powerful.
“The pink ball Test is the key to the series. If Australia, as they generally do in the Adelaide Day-Night Test, they have never been beaten with the pink ball. If Australia win that Test match and then India lose Virat Kohli for the next three, this could be 4-0 for Australia,” Michael Vaughan said on Cricbuzz.
Virat Kohli will be leaving for India after the first Test in order to attend the birth of his first child. In his absence, Ajinkya Rahane will lead Team India in the remaining three games. Michael Vaughan further said he doesn’t see many teams scoring a lot of runs against the current Australian pace attack comprising the likes of Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, and Josh Hazlewood among others.
Australia will be without their star opener David Warner for the first Test. Speaking about that, Michael Vaughan said that his absence will help India to an extent before stating that the real test will be for the batsmen Down Under.
“David Warner missing the first Test gives India a little bit of hope. There is a little bit of confusion about who will open the batting for Australia in Tests. Will Pucovski has been concussed. But that Smith-Labuschagne combination and Travis Head getting better. Also, I don’t see many batting units that will consistently get big scores in Australia against this Australian attack. That is why 4-0,” he said.
