Shane Watson has backed India’s Test batsmen to do well in Australia later this year despite their struggles in England.
The all-rounder, who last represented Australia in 2016, felt that the Indian batsmen would be better equipped to tackle conditions in his country when they tour later this year because the Kookaburra ball doesn’t swing so prodigiously.
“It is not easy to play swing bowling. Trust me when Australia travel to England for Ashes next year, it won’t be easy for them also. England is the only place where the ball swings that much primarily due to conditions. You just can’t land in England once every three years and be successful,” Watson told Press Trust of India in an interaction.
“In Australia, the Kookaburra will stop swinging after first 10 or may be 15 overs, unlike Dukes, which can swing all day. I don’t think bounce would be that much of a problem.
“I don’t think any international team is playing swing bowling well these days and that is reflective in the performance on overseas (tours).”
Virat Kohli has been outstanding in the ongoing series against England, aggregating 544 runs from eight innings at an average of 68, but the next best Indian contributor – Cheteshwar Pujara – has scored just 241 runs. Indeed, not many of the England batsmen have done well either, with Jos Buttler’s 260 their best.
