Andrew McDonald admits Australia will be rooting for an England win in Ahmedabad Test

The ICC World Test Championship 2019-21 has created a situation where Australia would be supporting the England team after a very long time. The last match of the World Test Championship league round would be played between India and England in Ahmedabad when the two sides play the fourth match of the series. 

New Zealand has already qualified for the final, which is scheduled to take place at the Lord’s Cricket Ground in London in June. If India manages to win or draw the fourth Test, they will qualify for the final, while if England win, Australia will go through to the final. Australia’s stand-in head coach Andrew McDonald revealed that his team will be rooting for England to win the final Test in India. 

Ahead of the third T20I between New Zealand and Australia, McDonald said that his team is hoping that the English team will get the job done for them. He has been assigned to be with the T20I squad as the interim head coach, as Justin Langer has got a rest after the South Africa tour got cancelled. Australia is 2-0 down in the series, with three matches to play, the first of which will be played in Wellington on Wednesday. 

Following England for the first time, says Andrew McDonald

“Bit of self-interest there, isn’t it, for us following England for the first time in a long time,” Andrew McDonald was quoted as saying by Hindustan Times. “We’ll be hoping that they can do the job there,” he added. McDonald further said that he knows it will be difficult for Joe Root and his men to beat India. 

“It’s going to be difficult, no doubt. Some of the surfaces they’ve played on are conducive to spin bowling and probably India’s strengths are in their ability to play spin as well,” said McDonald. “We wish (England) well, see what unfolds. It’s out of our hands but we’ll be watching on with interest.”

England entered this series with a win in the very first match in Chennai. India came back handsomely beating the visitors in the second match by 317 runs. After that, in the third Test in Ahmedabad, England were dismissed for 112 and 81 in their two innings, which resulted in their 10-wicket loss. The fourth and final match will start on March 4, 2021.