English Language · Reading Comprehension

Read the passage carefully and judge the statement based on it: 'This is a tremendous opportunity for the current side, arguably the most hyped India Test team of the modern era. In its past eight Tests outside Asia, this team has won two Tests and lost six. Redemption is needed. And Australia is the best place to seek it. The circumstances are different this time around. No touring side in recent memory has had a better sniff at winning a series in Australia. This is not the rampant Australia of Steve Waugh and Ricky Ponting, the teams that swept aside all before them, and were terrors to play against on their home soil. The current Australia team has lost three of the last five Test series it has played. Australia is enfeebled by the absence of their two best batsmen, Steve Smith and David Warner, both serving suspensions.' Statement: The author mentions 'Steve Waugh and Ricky Ponting' in this passage to express how strong the Australian team was before.