As the much-anticipated Border-Gavaskar Trophy between India and Australia looms, Australian fast bowler Josh Hazlewood has expressed a clear and ambitious message stating that Australia are determined to take down India in the five-match Test series. With the series set to begin on November 22 with the first Test in Perth, Hazlewood is confident that Australia will put in a dominant performance as they look to reclaim BGT for the first time since the 2014-15 season.
“I know there’s a lot of guys in the squad that have never beaten India in a Test series. Obviously we’ve beaten them in the World Test Championship Final but there are only a couple others who were there when we beat them 2-0 all the way back in 2014/15," Hazlewood said while addressing the reporters.
“Yeah, everyone is really determined. It’s sort of one that we need to tick off, as a group in particular.”
India will enter the five-match Test series against Australia on the back a horrible series defeat against New Zealand at home. Despite that, Hazlewood feels that India will be starting afresh under different conditions and circumstances.
“We have had overseas losses and then come, and played some good cricket. I think professional sportspersons can put those losses on the backburner pretty quickly these days and learn from it."
“In particular, when they are out of India, they might be able to relax a bit more. You know, not being under the hype of a home Test. Get into Australia, get out and about a little bit, relax and enjoy their freedom a little bit. I guess, the conditions being so different, it’s sort of a fresh start as well. I think they’ll be hungry, they’ll be ready to go,” said Hazlewood.
Hazlewood also expressed happiness over Indian veteran batter Cheteshwara Pujara's absence as he has been the nemesis to Australian bowlers in the past.
"I am happy that Cheteshwar Pujara is not here. He is obviously someone who bats time and spends a lot of time at the crease and makes you earn his wicket every time. Has done really well in Australia on previous tours. I mean there are always first-class young players coming into the team. There is so much pressure to perform in the Indian team. With so many guys nipping at the hills all the time, so overall the playing XI is a mix of unbelievable players. So it does not really matter, they are all big players," Hazlewood said.