Craig McDermott tips Australia to win both series in India

India is one of the top international teams going around these days. They are virtually unbeatable at home but former fast bowling great from Australia – Craig McDermott – has tipped Australia to come out triumphs in both limited overs series which will commence from September 17 in Chennai.

Australia will miss Starc, Hazlewood

The last time Australia played a bilateral ODI series in India was in 2013 when the home side won the series 3-2. Steven Smith, the skipper of Australia, was not even a part of the 15-man squad which played a 7-match ODI series followed by a lone T20. Fast bowler Mitchell Starc will give the series a miss as he has failed to recover from his injury. His, along with Jos Hazlewood’s absence, will hit the fast bowling department for Australia reckoned McDermott. But the presence of Coulter-Nile and Cummins will somehow compensate the missing duo’s absence as they can also ball quick, pointed out the former fast bowler who played 138 ODIs and 71 Tests for Australia between 1984 and 1996.

“Without Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood, the Australian attack is down on speed. But, I do believe Nathan Coulter-Nile and Pat Cummins have the ability to clock over 140 kph on a consistent basis. An important bowler in the line-up is James Faulkner who had a big role to play during our World Cup winning campaign in 2015. He has bowled well in shorter formats in the past. However, one thing we will be missing is Starc’s pace and his bowling at the death,” said McDermott in an interview with Times of India.

McDermott wanted Lyon in the squad

McDermott was surprised at the exclusion of Nathan Lyon, who has bowled exceedingly well in the sub-continent this year in Test match cricket. Lyon helped Australia to a face saving win at Chittagong last week picking 13 wickets in the game but failed to find a spot in either squad to tour India.

“Nathan has bowled very well in Bangladesh and even in India earlier this year — he was outstanding. I don’t actually know why he doesn’t play ODI cricket as often as he should considering that he actually started his career in Twenty20 cricket. He has done well in whatever opportunities he has had in the shorter formats,” said the 52-year-old.

“Faulker an X-factor”

McDermott was particularly pleased with James Faulkner’s selection. The all-rounder hit a maverick hundred in the last ODI he played in India in 2013 and is a handy death bowler due to his smart variations.

“Faulkner, in particular, brings the X-factor to the Australian side as he varies his pace, and can also score runs coming down the order. Faulkner has played a lot of vital knocks for Australia in the past. He is a great competitor and doesn’t take a backward step with the bat or ball,” said McDermott.

He signed off by predicting a 3-2 Australian win in the ODI series and a 2-1 win in the T20s. The former fast bowling great might have to eat his words as Kohli’s men are in red-hot form coming on the back of a 9-0 whitewash in Sri Lanka.