Steve Waugh says present Australian side the best prepared to tour India
Former Australian skipper Steve Waugh has said that the present Australian outfit was the best, in terms of the manner in which they had prepared prior to coming to India and wanted to see how the hosts would come after losing the opening Test in Pune.
"I don’t like to compare. But this team has got all the support they possibly need. They went to Dubai for two weeks and prepared on pitches similar to the subcontinent. So I would say this is the best prepared Australian side to tour India. A lot of new players in the team have no scars of the things that have happened here. Fresh ideas and fresh eyes too. They showed they are not scared and backed themselves up well. (Matt) Renshaw, a 20-year-old playing his first Test in the subcontinent and in most difficult conditions, played like he has played in turning tracks his whole life. He didn’t have too many pre-conceived ideas. Australia also have the best quick bowler in (Mitchell) Starc. Well, we have match-winners and got some good options on the bench too. They showed they are not intimated by Indian crowds and pitches because they have played (before in the IPL)," Waugh told in an interview to Bangalore Mirror.
Waugh further admitted that he did not expect Steve O'Keefe to bowl as well as he did in Pune and hoped for him to improve as the days passed.
"Nathan (Lyon) is of course a great competitor so I expected that (spell of 4/53 in the second innings) from him. But O’Keefe? He probably didn’t expect it (spell of 6/35, 6/35) himself. Look at the stats. He went for zero for 30 in the first five overs. Then he got 12 Indians for under 40 runs. It’s never been done before ever (by an Aussie in India). Good luck to him. (I think) maybe it’s the best Test he has ever played. But hopefully he gets better. He completed the perfect job for the captain. He put the ball in the right spot, turned some balls and slid some as well. (It’s) something we haven’t done in the past. They have hit the shiny side and it just skids through. They are mimicking Indian bowlers," he said.
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Former Australian skipper Steve Waugh has said that the present Australian outfit was the best, in terms of the manner in which they had prepared prior to coming to India and wanted to see how the hosts would come after losing the opening Test in Pune.
"I don’t like to compare. But this team has got all the support they possibly need. They went to Dubai for two weeks and prepared on pitches similar to the subcontinent. So I would say this is the best prepared Australian side to tour India. A lot of new players in the team have no scars of the things that have happened here. Fresh ideas and fresh eyes too. They showed they are not scared and backed themselves up well. (Matt) Renshaw, a 20-year-old playing his first Test in the subcontinent and in most difficult conditions, played like he has played in turning tracks his whole life. He didn’t have too many pre-conceived ideas. Australia also have the best quick bowler in (Mitchell) Starc. Well, we have match-winners and got some good options on the bench too. They showed they are not intimated by Indian crowds and pitches because they have played (before in the IPL)," Waugh told in an interview to Bangalore Mirror.
Waugh further admitted that he did not expect Steve O'Keefe to bowl as well as he did in Pune and hoped for him to improve as the days passed.
"Nathan (Lyon) is of course a great competitor so I expected that (spell of 4/53 in the second innings) from him. But O’Keefe? He probably didn’t expect it (spell of 6/35, 6/35) himself. Look at the stats. He went for zero for 30 in the first five overs. Then he got 12 Indians for under 40 runs. It’s never been done before ever (by an Aussie in India). Good luck to him. (I think) maybe it’s the best Test he has ever played. But hopefully he gets better. He completed the perfect job for the captain. He put the ball in the right spot, turned some balls and slid some as well. (It’s) something we haven’t done in the past. They have hit the shiny side and it just skids through. They are mimicking Indian bowlers," he said.