Australia start off as favourites, says Akram

Pakistan pace great and former captain Wasim Akram has said Australia would be the favourite to win the much-anticipated Test series against India in December-January.

"I think Australia's fast bowling is the best in the world. They have Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood and other top-class bowlers. It will be a close contest but I would say Australia start off as favourites," Akram told Cricket Baaz, a YouTube channel.

Akram said the competition would be intense owing to India's strong fast-bowling line-up led by  Jasprit Bumrah.

Akram pointed out that the Indian team of today has a lot of self-confidence. "The Indian team has got a lot of confidence. Their body language has changed. As a team they have confidence in themselves just like when we used to enter the ground in the 90s.