Australia will start favourites in home Day-night Test against India, reveals Steve Waugh

The four-match series between the two giants of the game later in the year has been much-awaited among all true lovers of the sport. The last time India visited, under Virat Kohli, they had become the first team from Asia to script a series-win Down Under. But given that India will be playing their first-ever overseas pink-ball Test on the tour and with the conditions always in favour of the hosts, Waugh believes it will be much tougher for Kohli and Co. to walk away with a similar result.

“Australia will be the favourite I think. We know the pitches well and the day-night Test is going to be something relatively new for India. I like the way Virat Kohli is taking that challenge. If you want to be the best side in the world, you have to win away from home as much as possible," Waugh told PTI.

Waugh, himself, expects a great series on the cards but rightly noted that India’s 2-1 win in 2018/19 came when the Aussies didn’t have David Warner or Steve Smith, who were serving their 12-month bans for their role in the ball-tampering scandal, in the team. Added to that, Australia were given a lifeline in the middle order with the emergence of Marnus Labuschagne after stepping in as a concussion substitute in the Ashes series. However, Waugh added that everything is in line for potentially a great series. 

"You can’t take away from India winning last time but Australia did not have the best batsmen. Marnus Labuschagne has come out of nowhere, the bowling looks much settled now. India does not have weaknesses either, so it’s potentially a great series,” Waugh added.