Tim Paine says the current Australian team will pose stiff challenge for India Down Under

Tim Paine has said that Australia with presence of batting icons Steve Smith and David Warner will be challenging for India. Aussies under Paine had lost previous Test series against Kohli & Co. 2-1 during 2018/19 season and by virtue of that win, India registered ir first-ever Test series win on Australian soil. Smith & Warner could t feature in that series as duo was handed a 12-month suspension for ir alleged involvement in infamous ball-tampering scandal in South Africa earlier that year. duo was also stripped from captaincy and vice-captaincy respectively.

It was because of ir unavailability that Aussies could t post big scores on board in last home series and ir presence is what makes difference this time around according to Paine.

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'We are a better team w': Tim Paine

While speaking to Hindustan Times, Australian Test captain went on to say he reckons that current top-ranked Test side are a better team w than y were n. Recalling previous Test series against India two years ago, wicket-keeper batsman mentioned a lot of time in that four-match series, Aussies did t get eugh runs on board to put Virat Kohli-led side under any pressure. 

veteran stumper n added y ( Australian team) just feel that if y can get some scoreboard pressure on and score runs to win Test matches and once y kw that y need to score in order to win Test matches, n ir bowling attack does t let m down.

Australia have been a side to reckon in red-ball cricket in last one year. top-ranked Test batsman had amassed over 700 runs in Ashes 2019 in England despite a hostile reception from English crowd. Warner, on or hand, had scored an amazing triple century during home series against Pakistan in vember last year.

India Tour of Australia 2020

As per various reports, Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) sources have confirmed that schedule has been agreed upon by both cricket boards i.e. BCCI as well as Cricket Australia (CA). However, decision has been made taking into consideration that Australia's COVID-19 situation does t worsen, and should that happen, n one venue option might be brought back.

Meanwhile, it has also been reported that second Test match at Adelaide Oval will be a Day-Night affair while last two matches will be played at Melbourne Cricket Ground and Sydney Cricket Ground respectively.

Can India create history once again?

India had beaten Australia when y had toured Australia in 2018-19 season 2-1 in four-match series to win ir maiden Test series on Australian soil.  It remains to be seen wher Virat Kohli-led side will succeed in retaining iconic Border-Gavaskar Trophy by getting better of a full-strength Australian side that features likes of Steve Smith, David Warner, Marnus Labuschagne, etc.

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(Im Courtesy: AP)