Cricket News: Ricky Ponting predicts 2-1 result of Test series in Australia's favour

Former Australian captain Ricky Ponting has predicted a 2-1 series result in favour of Australia for the upcoming series against India starting December 6 at Adelaide. He has also made a bold declaration saying that Usman Khwaja will outscore Virat Kohli in the four-test series and also Josh Hazlewood to be the standout performer. Kohli's four centuries and 692 runs at 86.50 on India's last Test tour to Australia four years ago was topped only by Steve Smith, but Ponting believes Khawaja's superb recent campaign against Pakistan has him primed to take a further leap in Smith and David Warner's absence. The two-time World Cup winning captain has also picked left-arm spinner Kuldeep Yadav ahead of seasoned off-spinner R Ashwin for the first Test to be played in Adelaide. He has also not picked Ishant Sharma or Jasprit Bumrah as his quick bowlers. Jasprit Bumrah, who has been India’s best bowler in the recent past, has been mighty impressive in his short Test career so far, but according to Ponting, the Indian team management should treat him with caution.