Australia vs India: Shahid Afridi picks the favourites of the Test series

Not often does one see India starting against Australia in a Test series on their soil as favourites. The No.1 ranked team is yet to win a series in the longer format Down Under but experts predict a change in fortunes this time since the hosts are not at their best. After a number of Indian and Australian cricketers opined that this is India’s best opportunity in Australia, former Pakistan captain Shahid Afridi has also made a similar forecast.

The first Test between the two cricketing powerhouses will begin at the Adelaide Oval on December 6. India have at best drawn three-Test series in Australia while lost the series played in 1977-78 by a margin of 2-3. The prediction that India could win the series this time has been strengthened by the fact that the Aussies do not have two key players in their ranks – Steve Smith and David Warner – who are serving one-year ban at the moment.

Australia are not the team they once were

“India can win the series Down Under because Australia doesn’t have the team that they used to. India have a superb batting line-up and they have improved their bowling as well,” the ace 38-year-old all-rounder who still plays franchise cricket told India TV.

Shahid Afridi, who achieved a bigger success in limited-overs cricket, however, favours Test cricket as the supreme format and feels that the authorities should do their best to preserve its authentic taste. Afridi played 27 Tests in his career scoring 1,716 runs but featured in just one game on the Australian soil, in 2005.

“I still feel that Test is the supreme format of the sport, the audience for Test have reduced in numbers but it should be promoted often which will eventually bring in people to witness,” the Pakistani cricketer added. Afridi recently led Pakhtoons to the final of the second season of T10 League in Sharjah but lost to Northern Warriors in the title clash by 22 runs.

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