India vs Australia | If India don’t win this series, they will never win in Australia, says Dean Jones

India will face-off against the Australians when they go head-to-head with Tim Paine & Co. in the series opener on December 6 at Adelaide. The home side will rue the absence of Steven Smith and David Warner who have been crucial for them in the last couple of years. Former Australian cricketer Dean Jones is adamant that the Indian team will never have a better chance to beat the Aussies on home soil.

“If India don’t win this series, they will never win in Australia. India are miles better than Australia in all formats but do they have the belief, and will their fast bowlers last the distance?” Jones told the Sydney Morning Herald.

Jones, who represented Australia in 52 Test matches, added that despite India’s poor overseas record, he expects the visitors to win the four-Test series starting in the first week of December.

“With India’s history, maybe this series will not be a fait accompli. I do feel the result will go India’s way to the tune of a 2-0 or 3-0 result, as I just can’t see Australia winning a Test anywhere.

“Normally when Australia play at home they are very hard to beat. But now there is no Steve Smith and David Warner, who consistently make 40% of Australia’s runs. For Australia to win, who is going to fill those shoes?” asked Jones.

Jones also cautioned the Australians to not provoke the ‘dangerous’ Virat Kohli during the upcoming series. The Aussie analyst gave some tips to the home team to contain the India skipper.

“Trying to find a weakness in Kohli’s game is like trying to find something wrong with the Mona Lisa. Teams must stop his cover drive and bowl in different areas. At the start of Kohli’s innings, quicks need to bowl at a fourth-stump line and make him play on the back foot. Do not give him width and length outside off-stump.

“Bowlers must try to set him up with short stuff first and then the odd wide ball on the drive to find the edge. Slips and gully stay on high alert,” added Jones.