Mar 19: Former India skipper Sourav Ganguly today said that the current Australian side is the worst-ever to tour India.
“They don’t have the batsmen to play spinners and spinners to take wickets here. I don’t want to rate the side but having seen the Aussies since 1996, I think this team is the worst-performing on Indian soil,” Ganguly told a regional news channel here today.
Reacting to India’s hattrick of wins against Aussies that had never happened, Ganguly said four days and a spin-friendly track in Kotla were what India need to hand a 4-0 whitewash.
The Australian team management’s decision to sack four players, including vice-captain Shane Watson, for the third Test on disciplinary grounds, also did not go down too well with Ganguly.
“No matter how disciplined you are, skill is the most important to be successful. Australia lack skill on this tour. I read somewhere about (former coach) John Buchanan lauding the decision (to sack the four). Just unbelievable, what can I say!”
Meanwhile, Ganguly hoped that Sachin Tendulkar scores some big runs. ”I hope he gets back to form. It’s very important for him to get into the rhythm.”
There may be talks about changing Tendulkar’s batting order but Ganguly said: “I don’t think there’s a need to readjust his order and he should stick to No 4 only.”
Ganguly pointed out that the batting collapse in their second innings was the Aussies’ biggest worry: ”Remember that Clarke won the toss on all three occasions. I won’t be surprised to see India win inside three days if the Aussies were made to bat second.
“In India, you will expect turning tracks only. Four days are just enough to win against this side. I hope India repeat this result on Australian soil as well.”
Asked about the Australia’s prospect in the upcoming Ashes, Ganguly said: “They (Englishmen) have been doing well. I won’t be surprised England win 3-0 in the five-match series.”
Mahendra Singh Dhoni may be on the verge of breaking his record of achieving most wins as India captain, but Ganguly said: “The most important thing for him right now is to build the team. Records are meant to be broken. But let’s hope that Dhoni remains (captain) till the World Cup 2015 and build a good side.”
Ganguly felt that the Board’s think-tank has a plan to continue with the duo of coach Duncan Fletcher and Dhoni: ”The Board must be looking at them to take India till 2015 World Cup, that’s more important,” he said.
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