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Ricky Ponting has given Australia little chance of upsetting India on the subcontinent, saying a competitive loss in the four-Test series will be a satisfactory result.
The former Australian captain says spin-friendly wickets will see India’s recent dominance on home soil continue when the sides meet for the first Test in Pune, starting February 23.
“I think they’ll struggle. Every team that goes there struggles,” Ponting told Sky Sports Radio on Friday.
“It’s become harder and harder for visiting teams. They’re probably making wickets to suit them more than ever before.
“Even looking at what happened in Sri Lanka, whenever the Australian team tours the subcontinent, you’re guaranteed the wicket’s going to turn on day one of the game.”
On their last Test series on the subcontinent, Australia were uncompetitive in a 3-0 loss to Sri Lanka.
Ponting said he would be happy if the tourists showed some fight against world No.1 India.
“Unlike what happened in Sri Lanka, as long as they can find a way to be really competitive through the Test series … I don’t think it’ll be that big a deal (if Australia lose),” he said.
“It’s a really learning curve for our guys to find a balance between playing the Australian way, the Australian style, and adapting that to Indian conditions.”
Meanwhile, Ian Chappell says Australia’s chances in India rest on star batsman David Warner turning around his modest record on the subcontinent.
Opening batsman Warner, the recently-crowned Allan Border medallist, bounced back from a below-par Test series against South Africa to return to career-best form this summer.
But his performances on the subcontinent have been less impressive, where he averages less than 26 runs in seven matches against India and Sri Lanka.
“I would almost go as far to say that if he doesn’t fire in India, I don’t think Australia’s got much chance,” Chappell told Sportsday.
“But if he does, he’ll make it a lot easier for the other guys coming in behind him.
“Plus, he will give the Indian spinners something to think about, because if he’s there, he’ll be attacking them.
“That’s something they probably haven’t experienced a lot.”
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