Are we really preparing for Australia!!

This short series, between Ind and WI, comprising of 2 tests has come to an end.

With just 6 playing days over 2 complete test matches, the question arises, what for, this series was scheduled?

With the Windies nowhere near any other test playing nations, this series was always a dead rubber.

Winning against this deteriorated 11 was never going to give any confidence for the much-awaited Australian tour later this year.

Steve Smith (who averages above 85 against India) was the starlet in their win, the last time team India visited down under. But with Smith and Warner, not looking good to make it to the Australian squad,following the famous (rather infamous) ball tampering incident against South Africa earlier this year, The Aussie team looks weaker on paper.

The two big plus from the England tour were – Kohli’s form and the Indian pace battery.

Indian Bowlers were really good with the new ball in England and their reverse swing exhibition with the older ball was also commendable, specially Shami.

But it was the top order that really let India down on that England tour, India lost 4-1 but could easily have won 3-2, our batters were below par, didn’t provide enough support to the lone warrior Virat Kohli.

A weaker Aussie batting line-up and a much capable Indian bowling will surely keep India’s hopes high to take the series for the first time down under.

However, Issues arise on the other side, WHEN WE BAT.

Australia’s pace battery is intact with the likes of Michelle Starc, Josh Hazelwood and Pat Cummins in their line-up.

Even the best can find it difficult to handle an Aussie bouncer ! Virat Kohli getting hit on the helmet by one lethal bouncer from Michelle Johnson on the last tour.

Addition of Peter Siddle is a big plus for them, someone who is good with both bat and ball. Moreover, his past performances against India are even better.

Siddle's Batting Stats (Against India compared to his overall numbers)

Siddle's Performance with the ball (Against India compared to his overall numbers)

With that poor England tour on back of their minds, facing this Aussie fast bowling attack on those bouncy pitches will be an uphill task for the Indian batters.

And again, the thing comes, how can you prepare for such a big tour playing against a team who cannot even make it to the Plate division in Ranji Trophy.

Indian team is not playing any practice games before the Australian tour. Had BCCI, avoided this WI tour and given some tour games to the team, it would have been much more beneficial. We have seen this in South Africa and England, how crucial being used to the conditions proved. But wonder why BCCI is not learning from the past mistakes and why series like WI was made more important than giving time to the team to settle in those conditions.

Unlike England, Australia is not a place where ball moves in the air, it’s the bounce and the movement off the pitch that the Indian batters have to tackle to go along the pace, certainly not going to be easy but with Adelaide and Sydney being good batting wickets, Indian fans can expect a better show from them this time.

Well, we have to wait till December when the Border-Gavaskar Series takes off. Surely it is going to be one crackerjack of a tour. And we hope BCCI somehow find sometime to get a couple of tour games for the team and most importantly our team performs well and win series for the first time down under.