Team India will be a tougher test than New Zealand and West Indies, says former Australian pacer Geoffrey Lawson

Geoffrey Lawson, the former Australian pacer who is now an analyst believes that team India will be “tougher opponents” than New Zealand and West Indies. Australia will face India in an ODI series which kick starts from the 12th of January this year.

Lawson is not at all impressed by Australia’s performance in the test series versus the Kiwi’s and West Indies in 2015 though Australia were the winners. He also criticised the omission of Nathan Lyon the off-spinner from the Australia squad that is to face India in the ODI series. Lawson played as a fast bowler for Australia in the 1980’s and he also coached the Pakistan cricket team for a year.

In his column in the Sydney Morning Herald Lawson wrote,

“India will make a tougher contest of white-ball cricket than New Zealand or the West Indies made of the Tests.”

The Australian team led by Steven Smith defeated an already stuttering West Indies during the test series and their victory adds nothing to their credit.

“The West Indies were not close in any of the three contests and, as a result, Australian players had opportunities to pad their batting and bowling statistics rather than toughen up techniques and mindsets.

“As learning experiences go, it’s hard to think of a less inspiring season,” wrote Lawson.

Team selection should be done with World Cup 2019 in mind: Lawson

With Mitchell Johnson retired and Mitchell Starc injured, Australia is introducing a greenhorn pacer like Joel Paris in the team. Lawson is of the opinion that Australia should keep the World Cup 2019 in mind while recruiting new players from the team.

“There is the short-term goal of winning each match and series — something Australian teams have always prided themselves on — and the long-term goal of having a match-hardened group of 16 to 20 players who can retain the 2019 World Cup,” he said.

He heaped praises on the 23-year-old who might make his debut for the Australian team in the series and said,

“The blooding of tyro Joel Paris is a calculated investment as the retirement of Mitchell Johnson and the fragility of Mitchell Starc is hedged with a fellow leftie who curves the ball.”

Though, he lauded the decision to include a new talent in the team, Lawson criticised the omission of older boys, especially that of Nathan Lyon.

“So some new boys get their chance and some old ones are returned, but the biggest surprise remains the continued omission of Nathan Lyon, apparently not a necessary ingredient for a winning formula,” he said.