Eoin Morgan Questions Australia's Ability to Handle Indian 'Bazball'; Shane Watson Backs Steve Smith as Opener

England’s 2019 World Cup winning skipper Eoin Morgan favoured India’s aggressive approach in Test cricket citing the famous win at Kanpur, saying doing so would ask a lot of questions of Australia.

“If they go to Australia and play in that manner, a big part of that series will lie in the balance will be the fitness of Nathan Lyon and how they play (him). If they take that mindset into playing Nathan Lyon like that, it asks a lot of questions of Australia,” he said during the launch of the International Masters League.

Morgan said the current Indian team ranks as “one of the greatest in their own conditions”.

“They have to be considered one of the greatest in their own conditions. What makes them so good is their hunger and desire to want to win. Their attitude towards that they never take for granted,” he said.

“We come from countries that have huge advantages for the home side. But yet our records over the course of generations are nowhere near as good as Indians,” he added.

Watson Feels Smith Should Continue as Opener

Watson backed senior batter Steve Smith to bounce back to form in the role of opener, having missed out in the last couple of Tests.

“Steve Smith made the call to be able to go and open, and I think he should stay there. Cameron Green came in and batted at No 4 and did a brilliant job. The hundred that he got in New Zealand for something very special. He’s the perfect No 4 candidate now with the future moving forward.

“Steve Smith, the reason why he didn’t do so well over the previous couple of Test matches is he was a little bit off with his technique. Just a little bit off to see him getting out a couple of ways, which I’ve never really seen him get out before.”

Watson expects Australia’s “hard-bodied” bowlers to be able to manage the workload of playing five Tests and backed Steve Smith to continue as an opener.

“One thing that they’ve shown throughout their careers, especially the last four or five years, is how incredibly resilient they are. Once the bowlers like (Mitchell) Starc, (Josh) Hazlewood and (Pat) Cummins, once they get up and going, they are very resilient,” he said.

“They are very hard-bodied and Test-match fit bowlers, which is what every fast bowler’s dream. There’s no question that they’ll be managed whenever we go through a series of five Test matches, but that’ll be the challenge that India have as well,” he said.

(With inputs from Agencies)