Australia Favored in Border-Gavaskar Trophy, Says Former Coach Buchanan

The highly anticipated Border-Gavaskar Trophy between India and Australia is set to commence on November 22 in Perth, marking the first five-Test series between the cricketing giants since 1991-92.

Former Australia coach John Buchanan has tipped the home team as favorites, citing the lack of warm-up games for touring teams as a significant factor. India will play a two-day pink-ball match against the Prime Minister's XI before the day-night Test in Adelaide, but Buchanan believes it may not be sufficient preparation for the fast and bouncy conditions in Perth.

Buchanan emphasized the importance of touring sides playing practice matches to adjust to local conditions, a trend that has declined in recent years due to the proliferation of lucrative T20 and T10 leagues. He believes this has contributed to the dominance of home teams in major series.

The fate of India in the series could hinge on the performance of young opener Yashasvi Jaiswal, who has impressed in domestic cricket but has yet to face the challenges of Australian wickets. Buchanan sees Jaiswal's ability to adapt to the pace and bounce as a potential barometer for India's overall success.

The five-Test series will test the endurance of both teams, with Buchanan predicting a classic encounter. He also expressed his preference for Steve Smith to continue batting at No. 4, despite the opener's recent success at the top of the order.

Tags: #BorderGavaskarTrophy, #IndiaVsAustralia, #Cricket, #TestSeries, #JohnBuchanan