Only India can compete with Australia Down Under, feels Michael Vaughan

There is no doubt that touring Down Under is one of the toughest tasks for a visiting side. Such is the enormity of winning a Test-let alone a series- against ruthless Australia in their own backyard. The ongoing Australian summer is increasingly threatening to turn out in that manner. After having swatted aside Pakistan with disdain early-on in the summer, the Aussies were expected to be pushed by their Trans-Tasman rivals and the currently ranked No.2 side in the world- New Zealand.

However, it has proved to be another one-sided affair thus far. After having bounced out the Kiwis by a comprehensive margin of 296 runs, the Aussies once again asserted themselves in pole position at 4-277 at stumps on the opening day of the Boxing Day Test at the MCG.

So, who can compete and possibly beat the Aussies in their own den? According to former England captain Michael Vaughan, it is none other than Virat Kohli’s Team India which has all the ingredients to beat the Aussies Down Under.

“I think there are two teams, India and Australia, they are the best Test match teams in the world, without question. I think there is only one team that can come here and put Australia under pressure, that was 12 months ago, that they won here, India,” Vaughan told Sydney Morning Herald.

India has an all-round bowling attack to challenge Australia: Michael Vaughan

India, who defeated Australia by 2-1 on their recent trip Down Under in the winter of 2018, will return to the Kangaroo nation for another round of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy at the end of 2020, and Vaughan hoped that Smith, Warner, and the revitalized Marnus Labuschabgne, all of them will be fit when India arrive next summer.

“There was no Smith, no Warner, no (Marnus) Labuschagne in the Australian ranks in that series, I think the series later on next year, when India arrive back here, hopefully, everyone will be fit.

Vaughan added that India has an all-round bowling attack, one that can compete against the Aussie batting unit. “That Indian attack has got the pace, it has also got the spin, the batting unit has got all the experience. I only see only one team at this stage that can compete with Australia here and that is India,” said Vaughan.

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