Australia all-rounder Glenn Maxwell is thrilled about the prospect of watching modern-day greats Virat Kohli and Steve Smith battle for supremacy in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy later this year.
“I think the way that the two superstar batters, Steve Smith and Virat Kohli, probably head-to-head... seeing how their dominance I suppose is asserted on the series and how much of an influence that has on who takes home the Border-Gavaskar Trophy,” Maxwell told Star Sports.
“One of those two is going to make a lot of runs, if not both of them, and it’s going to be pretty exciting to watch the two of the finest players of our generation,” he added.
Smith recently said that Kohli was an Australian amongst the Indian players in terms of attitude.
“I believe Virat Kohli is Australian in thoughts and action. The way he gets into the challenge and tries to get on top of the opposition. He’s probably the most Australian of the Indian players, I’d say,” Smith had said.
The five-Test series begins in Perth on November 22.
Since 2014-15, Australia have failed to lay their hands on the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, with India winning four consecutive series, including memorable triumphs Down Under in 2018-19 and 2020-21.
There is already a lot of talk about Smith’s batting position with coach Andrew McDonald saying “no firm decision” has yet been arrived at.
Opener Usman Khawaja has backed Travis Head to partner him at the top.
“At the end of the day, it’s a decision for the selectors. But if you have me opening,
Labuschagne three, Smith four … I feel like Travis Head might be best suited (to open the batting).”
“He’s obviously been very successful opening the batting in one-day cricket and, breaking it down, I’d probably lean towards him. But again, it’s not my decision. It is up to the selectors and I think they have been very good with their processes over the last couple of years,” said Khawaja.
