India may not be as effective as Neil Wagner in bowling bouncers - Matthew Wade

The Test series against India in 2020-21 will nonetheless be one of the toughest challenges for Australia, says Wade.

Australia wicketkeeper Matthew Wade.

India’s formidable pace attack may not be as effective as New Zealand fast bowler Neil Wagner in bowling bouncers during its tour of Australia, according to wicketkeeper Matthew Wade.

Wagner bowled a barrage of bouncers and dismissed Australia’s three leading batsmen — Steve Smith, David Warner and Marnus Labuschagne — a combined 10 times in a Test series between Australia and New Zealand last season.

India is now preparing for a four-Test tour of Australia this summer. “Teams may try it but I don’t think it will be as successful,” Wade told cricket.com.au .

“I don’t think anyone in the game has bowled bouncers the way he bowled and been so consistent, and not gotten scored off while also picking up wickets. I think we’ll see it a bit (from India) but I don’t think it will be as effective as Wagner. He’s done it for a long time now to be honest I’ve never faced a bowler who is so accurate at bowling bouncers.”

‘Hard work’

Wade said the series against Virat Kohli’s men will be one of the toughest challenges for Tim Paine’s side since it got together as a group. “Everyone, although they might not admit it, is looking towards that Indian series. It’s going to be hard work. They (India) are a fierce team. They’re as hard a team as I’ve ever played in terms of the way they compete.

“Led by Virat, you can see the way he goes about it on the field, you can see what it means to him and he drives all those guys, they jump on the back of him. It’s going to be as big a challenge as this team has faced for the 12 months we’ve been together.”

India will have to contend with Steve Smith and David Warner in the 2020-21 Test series. - GETTY IMAGES

 

Though it achieved its maiden Test series win Down Under in 2018-19, India will be facing a sterner challenge when it returns to face an Australian side bolstered by the presence of Smith and Warner alongside an in-form Labuschagne.

Australia has since 2018-19 won the Ashes after a drawn series in England and crushed New Zealand 3-0 at home earlier this year. During India’s tour of Australia, both Warner and Smith were serving their one-year ban for ball-tampering.