NEW
DELHI: India have looked so "seriously out of sorts" in Australia that
Pakistan great Wasim Akram fears a 4-0 hiding for Mahendra Singh Dhoni's
men.
India trail 2-0 in the four-match series, having lost the first Test in Melbourne by 122 runs and the second in Sydney by an innings and 68 runs.
Akram, who had predicted that India would lose the first two Tests, told the www.espnstar.com website he would not be surprised if Australia also win the remaining two matches in Perth and Adelaide.
"India are seriously looking out of sorts," Akram was quoted as saying from Australia where he is working as a television commentator for the series.
"There seems to be no planning in the team. Players are just looking like individuals and not gelling as a unit.
"This is surprising considering the fact that almost the same team were world number one just a few months back."
Akram said India played well at home, but faltered when they went abroad as was evident from the 4-0 rout in England last year and their current losses in Australia.
"Winning matters, but to win overseas is the real thing," he said. "India does well in their backyard but are found wanting when they play on foreign pitches."
Akram said India's inability to match Australia's aggression on the field disappointed him.
"It was disheartening to see the fielders lose hope as the Aussie batsmen piled on the runs," he said. Such body language was very unlike Dhoni and his team."
The third Test starts at the WACA ground in Perth, reputed to have the fastest wicket in Australia, on Friday.
India trail 2-0 in the four-match series, having lost the first Test in Melbourne by 122 runs and the second in Sydney by an innings and 68 runs.
Akram, who had predicted that India would lose the first two Tests, told the www.espnstar.com website he would not be surprised if Australia also win the remaining two matches in Perth and Adelaide.
"India are seriously looking out of sorts," Akram was quoted as saying from Australia where he is working as a television commentator for the series.
"There seems to be no planning in the team. Players are just looking like individuals and not gelling as a unit.
"This is surprising considering the fact that almost the same team were world number one just a few months back."
Akram said India played well at home, but faltered when they went abroad as was evident from the 4-0 rout in England last year and their current losses in Australia.
"Winning matters, but to win overseas is the real thing," he said. "India does well in their backyard but are found wanting when they play on foreign pitches."
Akram said India's inability to match Australia's aggression on the field disappointed him.
"It was disheartening to see the fielders lose hope as the Aussie batsmen piled on the runs," he said. Such body language was very unlike Dhoni and his team."
The third Test starts at the WACA ground in Perth, reputed to have the fastest wicket in Australia, on Friday.
