Date:21/09/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/09/21/stories/2008092160701700.htm

Sport - Cricket

‘India-Australia series will be hard-fought’

Kolkata: Former India all-rounder Mohinder Amarnath feels the India-Australia series would be a hard-fought one but said the side taking the lead would have definite advantage.

Without picking any favourites, Amarnath, who is Bengal consultant for the Ranji Trophy 2008-09 season, said, “India-Australia series has always been very competitive. There’s no clear favourites, with both teams giving their best shot till the end. So it will be difficult to say whether India or Australia are the favourites. The team which takes the lead will have an advantage.”

Asked whether there’s pressure on the big four — Sourav Ganguly, Sachin Tendulkar, Rahuld Dravid and VVS Laxman — who fared miserably in India’s 1-2 series defeat to Sri Lanka, Amarnath chose to differ.

“Pressure is on everybody... Be it the senior members or the youngsters, there’s always pressure to perform at the highest level,” he said — PTI