Former wicketkeeper Ian Healy has looked into his crystal ball and predicted how Australia will fare in their upcoming away Test tours against India and England.
Given that the two nations are Australia’s biggest rivals and perhaps the hardest places to go and win, there’s genuine hope that Pat Cummins’ number-one-ranked side can create history by winning where a lot of previous Australian teams have failed.
First up on the calendar is the four-Test India series which starts in February before the five-Test Ashes series begins in June.
Check out Healy’s predictions from SENQ Breakfast with Pat and Heals below.
India v Australia
Prediction: India 2 – 1 Australia
Healy says: “They’ve got a good team but I’m not too scared of their spinners unless they produce unreasonable wickets.
“If they produce unreasonable wickets like they did half the series last time (we won’t win), two wickets were just terrible, unfair, spinners jumping over your head on day one.
“So that type of thing they will play better on than we will, but if they get flat wickets that India used to put out, nice flat batting wickets and bowlers have to work really hard, I think we can do it.
“But (my prediction is) 2-1 India, if Starc’s unavailable in the first Test.
“My worry for him not playing the first Test is that you don’t have a lot of time to get the bowling in that you’re going to need in the second, third and fourth Test.”
England v Australia
Prediction: England 1 – 3 Australia
Healy says: “Now Ashes, if we haven’t got any injuries in that bowling attack and we can play our top team, then 3-1 Australia.
“We’re going to really attack Bazball and put Bazball under pressure.
“We’ll see how much courage and bravery they can retain in that top order with England and their bowlers.
“I think for once we’ll cope the best against Anderson and Broad, Anderson is 40 years of age, we’ve got to really get some pressure back on him.
“Our best players for mine, Pat Cummins and Steve Smith will be our stars.”