India would want to forget about the triangular series they had played in January 2014 in Australia. In that series, they could not win even a single game, and after that they headed straight into tht ICC World Cup 2015.
This is 2016, and yet again India are Down Under to face the world champions in a five-match ODI series and three-match T20 series. Australia gaffer Darren Lehmann feels India are a good side and this limited-over series will be challenging for his men.
Lehmann is completely aware of the quality and talent India possess. He feels it is not going to be cream and cheese against India in the ODI and the T20 series.
"They are a good one-day side as they made the semis of the World Cup. They are a quality side, so from our point of view we have got to start well and play well against them. We haven't played in Perth for a while, so that is exciting for us and I feel it's a fast bouncy track," Lehmann told reporters at WACA on Friday. "It will be a good challenge for them. We play top cricket, and India play the same way, so it will be an exciting series."
Few of the members of the Australian ODI squad were a part of the current edition of the Big Bash League. The likes of Glenn Maxwell, George Bailey, Joel Paris and Kane Richardson have been in good form in the domestic season as well as in the Big Bash League, and thus they have been included in the ODI squad against India. These players will now join their national side to prepare for the upcoming ODI series against India. They all would want to keep that momentum going as they move into this crucial series.
"They are playing an aggressive brand of cricket as well, so I don't really see that changing in the next five games. The heat of the battle (will determine) how they go. They have that in T20 — the pressure of the Big Bash and the big crowds," Lehmann said. "So they'll be used to that now, which is a good thing for us. International cricket is another step up for them, but I'm sure they'll handle it well. It will be a good challenge for them."
