How can Australia overcome India in 2022? Justin Langer remarks
What's the story
While Australia will be targeting a healthy performance against a struggling Pakistan, head coach Justin Langer is eyeing a bigger and distant target. His ultimate aim to see Australia tame India at their own backyard in 2022, while he wants his side to begin the preparations for the tour against Pakistan itself. Here's how he feels it can happen.
Sights set firm
Langer had already targeted India a year back
The dream was even further when Langer had targeted the tour a year back, right upon his appointment as the team coach. "If I fast forward it, the Indian tour against India, the Test tour in three or four years' time, to me that's the ultimate. We will judge ourselves as a great cricket team if we beat India in India," he had said.
Maturity
Langer wants to find the maturity to win in India
Langer said that while it is always an uphill task to tame India at home, he was looking to find that maturity within the team in the two years. "That's the expectation and we've got a couple of years now to find that maturity I'm talking about, to be nice and battle-hardened and as ready as possible for that series," he quoted to ESPNCricinfo.
Impressive
Langer impressed with the upcoming maturity in the team
However, Langer added that judging by the recent performances of the side, the maturity is creeping in, as it takes time, along with mental toughness and endurance, to back it up. "On one hand, it is a really good thing we've got lots of growth for this Test team and this group of players, that's the up side," he added.
Quote
Lack of experience doesn't always demand the results: Langer
"You don't necessarily want all senior players, although it works out sometimes, and you don't want all youngsters because that's exciting, but also, lack of experience doesn't always demand the results you're looking for," continued Langer.
Previous encounter
Australia humiliated at home by India during previous encounter
As for the previous Test series, played between the sides, India justified their number one tag, as they scripted a historic 2-1 win Down Under for the first time ever. While India won the Tests in Adelaide and Melbourne, their only loss came in Perth, as the fourth Test in Sydney ended in a draw. Cheteshwar Pujara was adjudged the Man of the Series.
Ashes 2019
Australia bounced back strong during Ashes
Nonetheless, the side managed to brush aside the India humiliation, as they produced a magical, but ruthless, performance in the Ashes in England. Although they did not win the series, the 2-2 series draw allowed them to retain the urn. Meanwhile, Steve Smith was the Man of the Series, having scored 774 runs in seven innings at a superb average of 110.57.
Under Langer
Australia have fared averagely under Langer
As for Australia's performance under Langer, it has been an average one. In 66 matches across formats, they have managed to win 34 and lose 27. As for their most successful win-loss ratio, it has come in the T20Is, where they have won 12 of the 22 matches, and lost eight. However, they have fared poorly in Tests, with a win-loss ratio of one.