Craig McDermott heaps praise on Team India

As Australia play their second fixture against Bangladesh in the Champions Trophy,  Craig McDermott feels the Aussies will finish the game on a winning note. Australia’s first match with New Zealand was a washed out affair, with both the teams sharing the points. Today at The Oval they will be looking to make amends and prove themselves as the fiercest competitors of the game.

Former Australian bowling coach, McDermott has taken note of the Australian bench and felt that they have the required gun power to make it a fierce battle. Australia has been the numero uno side irrespective of the rankings. They play highly competitive cricket which has been a hallmark for the side. But the former cricketer sounded a warning that the Bangladeshis cannot be taken in a light vein.

The Tigers have their hits and misses and can spring a surprise game any day. They have shed their minnows tag which is quite evident in their qualification for the Champions Trophy. “Australia does have a quality side in their ranks but one can’t take Bangladesh lightly. Teams such as Bangladesh have the ability to surprise you and they have been playing some very good cricket of late. I expect a keenly-fought clash,” said McDermott to TOI.

Australia has an upper hand

The former spearhead has profusely praised the Australian line-up. They have the most dangerous bowling arsenal and their batting possess enough ammunition to last all the 50 overs. “We have one of the most potent fast bowling units in the business and our batting too appears strong. It will all boil down to get the bearings right on the given day,” he pointed out.

Craig who had played a crucial role in Australia’s World Cup victory in 2015, talked about the Indian team in his brief interview. He said that the Indians deserve a great deal of respect for the way they have been playing cricket in the past few years. He loves watching Virat Kohli play and is a fan of his aggressive approach to cricket.

Proud of Indian cricket

He is excited to serve Indian cricket as head coach and has tendered his application for the same. “I have a great deal of respect for the way Indians play cricket. I have always enjoyed watching Virat Kohli play and his aggression has been a big plus for the Indian cricket. Being the head coach of a team has always been something I have wanted to do. I have the experience of being part of the Australian setup and have enjoyed a fair amount of success,” the Aussie spoke out.

Being the defending champions, India will be an exciting side to watch for, feels McDermott. The Indian ranks have pleased him and the way they have played, they deserve to go a long way in the tournament. Also, Virat has led his troops exceedingly well.

“They have a great bunch of fast bowlers and there is a lot of variety in their ranks. India have been playing top-notch cricket for some time now and they have been lead brilliantly by Kohli,” he concluded.