'Such a Tough Team to Beat in Australia...': Marnus Labuschagne Praises Opponent Ahead of Blockbuster Clash

The current Indian team has been gifted with some of the finest fast bowlers of the modern era including Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Shami, Mohammed Siraj among others. And that’s what makes them such a tough nut to crack in Australian conditions, reckons Marnus Labuschagne who will be hoping to be among the runs when Rohit Sharma and Co. tour his country for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy later this year.

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India have won the last two bilateral Test series in Australia since losing 1-2 during their 2014-15 tour. In fact, they haven’t lost any bilateral Test series during this time that saw them record identical 2-1 series wins in 2018-19 and 2020-21 Down Under to maintain their hold over BGT.

“India’s fast bowling is very good, which is really what brings them in Australian conditions and make them such a tough team to beat in Australian conditions,” Labuschagne told Star Sports.

The middle-order mainstay termed the rivalry as ‘tough’ irrespective of where they are playing. “There is always high anticipation. To these two teams, it doesn’t matter where we’re playing, if it’s in England, Australia, or India, it’s always a tough contest,” he said.

All-rounder Cameron Green reckoned the five-Test series between India and Australia starting on November 22 at Perth could be a “preview” for the final of the World Test Championship next year.

India lead the WTC table for 2023-25 cycle with 68.52 percentage points and 74 points, followed by Australia with 62.50 percentage points and 90 points.

The WTC final will be played at Lord’s from June 11-15 next year and could feature both the current top two teams once again.

India have featured in the summit clashes of the WTC on both occasions but have lost to New Zealand (2019-21) and Australia (2021-23).

“Every single point is pretty crucial for the World Test Championship. Any way you can kind of (or) get an idea of (to) how to get one up on your opponent, we’ll try and take,” Green said.

“If it is a bit of a preview for a World Test Championship final again, yeah, we’ve been trying to get as much information out of India and see how we can win it again,” he added.

With PTI Inputs