Thaindian News

Melbourne, Dec 22 (IANS) Former Australian captain Mark Taylor feels that Indian batsmen, who are pampered by flat tracks at home, will be exposed fast and bouncy pitches in Australia.

Taylor believes that Australia’s young pace battery have the firepower to unsettle India’s famed batting line-up that boasts of all-time greats Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid, Virender Sehwag and V.V.S. Laxman.

“They’ve been great players. I’ll be interested to see how they go against this young Australian bowling lineup. I don’t feel Sachin, Rahul and VVS are getting tested as often as say Ricky Ponting and Mike Hussey have in recent times,” Taylor said.

“They’ve been tested on wickets that are more bowler friendly whereas Sachin, Rahul and VV play a lot of their cricket in India where the wickets are generally flatter, they don’t bounce as much and don’t move off the seam,” he said.

Taylor feels the highlight of the summer will be the contest between Indian batsmen and Australian bowlers.

“This will be a good test for them and a good test for our fast bowlers, I reckon they are up to it. I think it’s going to be one of the highlights of the summer to see how those ageing batsmen of India go against the young quicks,” Taylor was quoted as saying by The Age.

Taylor backed Ponting, who is struggling for form and is without hit a century in nearly two years.

“It’s not that you can’t do it anymore, you just need a moment when a lucky break goes your way and Ricky’s probably that close. And Boxing Day has been pretty good to him,” Taylor said.