With all the bilateral series cancelled due to the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic, the fans are eyeing India’s tour of Australia later this year. While dark clouds still loom over the fate of the series, but cricketers believe the boards can pull it off. Australia veteran batsman Usman Khawaja believes closed-door games might benefit the home side.
Incidentally, Virat Kohli & Co scripted history when they toured last time in 2018-19. India defeated Australia 2-1 to win the Border-Gavaskar Trophy down under for the first time in history. As a result, the intensity will be high this time around when India tour for another four-match series.
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Meanwhile, to go forward with the series, Cricket Australia might mull over holding games behind-closed-doors. Usman Khawaja believes it will benefit the host considering that India attract a lot of crowds in all Australian stadiums, especially Melbourne Cricket Ground.
“It’s definitely an advantage,” he told Fox Sports News with a laugh on Saturday. “I remember the last time they came over for a one-day series, the roar for India was much bigger. Especially in Melbourne, the number of expats they have over there, they flock in. And when India’s on top they really let you know it.
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It’s a really weird feeling. When you’re in India, you expect to be outnumbered massively but you can be outnumbered in Melbourne, as well as Sydney to some extent also,” Usman Khawaja added.Â
Meanwhile, BCCI treasurer Arun Dhumal has already expressed that Indian cricketers are willing to stay in quarantine for 14 days in Australia to play the series. He also added there has been no decision whether they will play an extra Test match to recover some of the losses caused by COVID-19.
