The current Australian bowling attack is close to being the greatest we’ve ever had, according to former Test spinner Gavin Robertson.
Mitchell Starc, Nathan Lyon, Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood all starred with the ball in Australia’s eight wicket win over India in the first Test in Adelaide.
Cummins (4-21) and Hazlewood (5-8) skittled India for a paltry 36 in their second innings – their lowest-ever Test score – and took their 150 and 200th Test wickets respectively in the process.
Starc has taken 248 Test scalps while Lyon is closing in on the magical 400-wicket milestone.
“In these moments we go towards an immediate opinion regarding who is the best bowling attack you have ever seen,” Robertson told Mornings with Matt White on SEN.
“But I can’t really move away from what we’re seeing with the Australian side at the moment.
“I think that Hazlewood, Cummins, Starc and Lyon are definitely close to being the greatest we’ve ever had.
“Cummins and Hazlewood live at the top of off stump and then you’ve got Mitchell Starc who can do that, but you’re not sure sometimes. Can he bring it in? Can he bowl a bouncer? Will it go away? He’s difficult to face because they’re not sure.
“And then Nathan Lyon who I see as the best spinner in the world.”
Robertson is predicting a series whitewash in Australia’s favour following the series-ending arm injury to Indian paceman Mohammed Shami and Virat Kohli’s departure to attend the birth of his first child.
“I think we’ll rock and roll them. I do expect 4-0,” he said.
“I can’t think of an Indian side that has been decimated like this with the loss of Shami – who I think is in the top five bowlers in the world and Virat Kohli – who is in top two batsmen in the world.
“Two devastating losses for the Indian team.”
The second Test gets underway on Boxing Day at the MCG.