Former Pakistan captain Waqar Younis feels that India’s Test series victory in Australia back in 2018-19 could largely be attributed to the absence of Steve Smith and David Warner from a team that was already reeling from the after effects of the ball-tampering controversy.

“I am not trying to take away any credit from India. They played well and they are a very good side. But yes, when they won in Australia, there’s no doubt that Australian cricket was going through turmoil and there were problems in their dressing room. And they were without Steve Smith and David Warner, which to an extent helped India,” Waqar said during a videoconference.

Waqar, however, is not sure as to what has been the reason behind Pakistan’s failure Down Under. “I really don’t know why we have not won Tests there all these years. At times, we went there with top bowling attacks, yet we lost.

“To me, it was a case of when the bowling worked, the batting didn’t put up enough runs or when the batters put up enough runs, the bowlers didn’t come through,” he said.

For instance, on Pakistan’s tour of 1999, when the bowling attack had Waqar himself, the iconic Wasim Akram, a fiery Shoaib Akhtar, along with all-rounder Abdul Razzaq and the wily Saqlain Mushtaq, they still lost 0-3.

At the same time, he pointed out that in Tests, India have also generally struggled in Australia until their victory in 2018-19.

“You have to keep in mind that Australia is never an easy place to tour for any side.

Look at the recent tour by New Zealand. They are also a top side, but they lost badly. England have lost the Ashes in Australia in a one-sided series.”

Waqar, meanwhile, conceded that if the Covid-19 lockdowns continued and Pakistan couldn’t tour England in June-July, it would be a big loss to Pakistan cricket.

“Misbah-ul Haq, myself and our support staff have all been planning for the England team. We are not even thinking about the T20 World Cup.

“Traditionally, we have always done well in England and that is why the tour is important to us in a way of building our Test team.”

Waqar, currently Pakistan’s bowling coach, also made it clear he had no problems working under Misbah, who is the head coach and chief selector, and didn’t agree with the assumption that big players could not be good coaches because of big egos.