'Favourites' talk all strategy, says Ashwin

Ace India off-spinner Ravi Ashwin has declared Australia starting favourites for next week's opening Border-Gavaskar Test as the hosts look to recover from a tumultuous 2018.

The Cape Town ball-tampering scandal, significant changes of leadership, disappointing results on the field and the exodus of several Cricket Australia executives have all played a part in what has become perhaps the most challenging year in Australian cricket history.

And if the road ahead wasn't difficult enough, Australia's next opponents are the world No.1 Test team India, who are presently in Sydney finalising their preparations in their lone tour match before next Thursday's first Domain Test in Adelaide.

India have never defeated Australia in a Test series on Australian soil, but with suspended trio Steve Smith, David Warner and Cameron Bancroft absent, the 2018-19 tour looms as their best chance since first visiting in 1947 against Don Bradman's men.

But Ashwin, a veteran of 64 Tests and two tours of Australia, is not buying into the theory Australia are underdogs and will be easy beats, and that India should enjoy firm favouritism.

In fact, Ashwin points to Australia's efforts against England last summer, when Smith's team regained the Ashes 4-0, as to why they are such a dangerous prospect at home.

"The whole talk about India starting favourites, even when Australia came to India they were talking us up and it looks like more of a strategy (to) us," said Ashwin after play in their match against a Cricket Australia XI on Friday.

"I personally think you have to go one day at a time. It's never easy to come over to Australia and win a series.

"In the Ashes, they almost whitewashed England, knocked them over, so as far as I'm concerned they are starting favourites and it's very important for us to chip away every single day, every single ball and if we can get our noses ahead, stay ahead."

In the wake of the cultural and ethical reviews carried out by CA, the nature of how Australia will play their cricket moving forward has generated significant public discussion.

Ex-players like Michael Clarke and Simon Katich have aired their thoughts, while national coach Justin Langer and Test captain Tim Paine want their troops to "make Australians proud".

But Australia's new approach this summer is an area Ashwin and his teammates are not concerned about.

"As it is, there's a lot of headaches when you play international cricket, personally and for the teams you are part of, (so) it makes no sense to try and get your heads or noses into another dressing room," he added.

"That's for them to mind their own cricket and it's very important that when you go out there you compete really hard, make sure you are sticking to your plans and strengths.

"That's the most important thing as far as I'm concerned."

Domain Test Series v India

Dec 6-10: First Test, Adelaide Oval

Dec 14-18: Second Test, Perth Stadium

Dec 26-30: Third Test, MCG

Jan 3-7: Fourth Test, SCG

Australia squad: Tim Paine (c, wk), Josh Hazlewood (vc), Mitch Marsh (vc), Pat Cummins, Aaron Finch, Peter Handscomb, Marcus Harris, Travis Head, Usman Khawaja, Nathan Lyon, Shaun Marsh, Peter Siddle, Mitchell Starc, Chris Tremain

India squad: Virat Kohli (c), Murali Vijay, KL Rahul, Prithvi Shaw, Cheteshwar Pujara, Ajinkya Rahane, Hanuma Vihari, Rohit Sharma, Rishabh Pant (wk), Parthiv Patel (wk), Ravi Ashwin, Ravi Jadeja, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Shami, Ishant Sharma, Umesh Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah, Bhuvneshwar Kumar