In what must be music to the ears of under pressure veterans Ricky Ponting and Mike Hussey, Shane Warne has predicted good times for Australia's batsmen against a "weak" Indian attack in their four-Test series.
The 37-year-old Ponting and Hussey, 36, look set to line up in the Boxing Day Test but their long term future remains unclear after they again stumbled in the drawn series against New Zealand.
However, it was the Indian bowling attack - or lack thereof - that was in Warne's sights when asked to assess the coming series.
"England just beat them 4-0," he said in Brisbane on Monday.
"They have got some wonderful batting and all that sort of stuff but I think their bowling is a bit weak.
"And if Zaheer Khan or Ishant Sharma goes down with injury then it should be a good time for the Australian batters."
It is believed India will call in a cover player for injured fast bowler Sharma (ankle) after he was ruled out of the three-day match against a Chairman's XI that began in Canberra on Monday.
Injuries have also kept Australian selectors honest - Shane Watson and Ryan Harris are expected to return Boxing Day but Shaun Marsh is still recovering from a back complaint.
Warne said the packed international schedule was to blame for many injuries.
"The bottom line is that they have to play too much cricket - there is too much expected of an international cricketer," he said.
"And we are playing two Test series to cram everything in.
"It is ridiculous. To me that is not right.
"Let the players recover, so they can be the best players they can be."
Warne was not as scathing about his cricketing comeback in Australia.
He finished with 0 for 19 off two overs in his first Big Bash League Twenty20 game for Melbourne Stars as David Warner's unbeaten ton steered the Sydney Thunder to a six-wicket win last Saturday night.
Warne will back up against the Brisbane Heat at the Gabba on Tuesday night.
"I thought I bowled alright, I just got whacked by Warner," Warne said.
"I thought it was a wonderful innings."
AAP
Tags: cricket, sport, brisbane-4000, melbourne-3000, vic, qld, australia, india First posted December 19, 2011 20:42:25
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