Pat Cummins & co. can repeat Australia's 2004 feat, feels Brad Hodge

Australians after winning Test series vs South Africa

The Australian Test side will face one of their biggest overseas challenges when they take on India in their backyard come February in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2023. Former Baggy Green player Brad Hodge, a member of the side that won a rare Test series in India in 2004, has backed the current side to emulate the feat.

Australia head into the four-Test series as ranked No.1 Test side by ICC, while India are just below them in second position. An emphatic series win for India will see them qualify for the ICC Test Championship Final for the second time in a row.

As per AAP, Hodge found no difference between the 04' side and this current batch. Interestingly, in 2004, the visitors won a four-match Test series against India in India, under Adam Gilchrist's leadership.

"Not a lot. They can do it, this current group, they just have to believe and have a little bit of luck. But it’ll be a challenge, no doubt about it. Whenever you travel offshore, any Test you play is tough. But this is as tough as it gets.”

The former Gujarat Lions coach pointed out that the Australian team is a well-balanced squad and will be ultra-competitive in the middle against India come match day.

"Other than that, the teams stack up fairly evenly. Our bowling is as good as anyone and our batting has been on fire all summer. We’ve got some very good players of spin and we’ll be ultra-competitive. It’s just whether we can last a full tour.”

The first Test will start on February 9 in Nagpur, while the Pat Cummins-led unit will be traveling India a bit early to have a training camp in Alur, Bangalore.

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