Conquered Territory

Australia have never been this vulnerable in recent times. But India skipper Virat Kohli is likely to shy away from declaring Australia their ‘final frontier’

- Vimal Kumar

IN ORDER TO prove that his team was an all-time great, former Australia captain Steve Waugh publicly revealed his desperation to win in India in 2001 (Australia hadn’t won a series in 35 years until then), declaring the mission as the team’s “final frontier.”

After being beaten twice in recent times (South Africa and England), Kohli is likely to be shy in stating that Australia is indeed the ultimate frontier for India. India’s record in Australia is so poor that you won’t even need two hands to count how many times they have won a Test Down Under.

India have never won a series and lost 28 of the 44 Tests, drawing eleven and winning only five. And two of those wins came when Australia’s best players were playing for Kerry Packer, forcing former captain Bob Simpson—who had retired a decade earlier—to come out of retirement and lead the side at the age of 41!

Alarmingly, India haven’t won a single Test on their last two tours—2011-12 and 2014-15. However, this can change in the upcoming series as Australia have never been this vulnerable in recent times.

By winning three series in the last decade, South Africa have already shattered the myth of Australian supremacy in home conditions and it is high time India end their 72-year drought.

“Yes, they are favourites to win but it is going to be very tough. I will go a little back. Against England, the expectations were similar. If I was a betting man, I would have put my money on India’s young, vibrant batting line-up,” says former West Indies captain Carl Hooper who is now settled in Australia.