Cricket greats Mike Hussey and Michael Vaughan are predicting Australia to win the Test series against India as Josh Hazlewood revealed the one player he was glad not to see in India’s squad.

The blockbuster five-Test gets underway on Friday in Perth’s Optus Stadium, where Australia hasn’t lost the four Test matches played there.

Australia hasn’t won a Test series against India since 2014-15, while redemption is on the mind for India after losing 3-0 to New Zealand at home.

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Speaking on Wednesday, Hazlewood said he was relieved he won’t have to bowl to Cheteshwar Pujara, who scored 521 including three centuries in the 2018-19 series and 271 runs including three half centuries in the 2020-21 tour.

“I’m pretty happy Puj isn’t here,” Hazlewood said with a smile.

“He’s obviously one that bats time, makes you really earn his wicket every time, has done really well in Australia on these tours.”

India has moved on from Pujara and fellow 36-year-old veteran Ajinkya Rahane, who scored an old school Test hundred at the MCG on the last tour to Australia.

But Virat Kohli’s dip in form, and the omission of two veterans who dominated the past two tours of Australia, have the Aussies dreaming of a thumping series win.

Former England captain and Fox Cricket expert Michael Vaughan said he was “intrigued to see how India fight back after losing 3-0 at home”.

“They played an intra-squad match at the WACA. Time will tell but I’m not sure that’s the right prep,” Vaughan told news.com.au.

“I’d want at least one really hard game against Australia A. Australia hasn’t played any Test cricket, so I think the first two days in Perth are going to tell us a lot about the series.

“I just think this Indian side, Virat Kohli isn’t the captain, and they had the charismatic leadership of Ravi Shastri as coach when they won on the last two tours.

“I’m intrigued to see how they find that strength of character and leadership because to beat Australia in their own backyard, you have to ruffle come feathers, get into their 파워볼 space and play hard cricket.

“I’m also looking at India thinking who’s going to be Pujara or Ajinkya Rahane for them? “The last two times they’ve had players who’ve batted a long time, worn down the Australian bowlers.

“Who’s going to be that player this time around? They’ve got flamboyant players and very aggressive players, but quick 30s and 40s don’t win you a series in Australia. You need someone to wear the opposition down.

“I’m just looking at the India batting line-up thinking who of that top four in particular are going to bat a long period of time. It looks like it’s going to have to be Virat Kohli.

Fox Cricket’s Mike Hussey pointed out KL Rahul as a batter who will need to lift his game around the likes of Shubman Gill, Yashasvi Jaiswal and Rishabh Pant.

“KL Rahul is such a high class player,” Hussey told news.com.au.

“He’s had a couple of opportunities in Australia before and hasn’t quite been able to grab them. Has he learned from those past experiences, can he have a really good series in Australian conditions.

“I think he’s one of the best players going around but he just hasn’t been able to show it in Australia.”

Hussey added: “I think it will be a war of attrition, five Tests of two very good teams going at it.”

“It’s hard to predict but I think Australia are really primed for this series,” he said.

Hussey said the scheduling of the Tests, starting at venues where Australia have a dominant record — Perth, the Adelaide Oval and the Gabba — could see the Aussies take a 3-0 series lead. Australia has won all 12 day-night Test matches contested since 2015.

“It’s hard to put a number on it but I think they’ll win and win well. They might even go 3-0 in the series,” Hussey said.

“Having the first Test in Perth, fast bouncy conditions, India have come from Indian conditions, not that easy to make the adjustment. Then we go to Brisbane for the second Test, another fast bouncy pitch.

“Then Adelaide for the day nighter and we’ve never lost a day-night Test. Australia could be in pretty good shape in the series after the first three.”