Former Australian all-rounder Tom Moody fears that the upcoming Test series between India and Australia in the sub-continent could get very messy for the visitors.

Moody, who featured in eight Tests and 76 ODIs for Australia, feels that the current Australian Test team are still in a stage of development and that the tour to India might a step too far for them.

India are currently the number one ranked team in the world and are on a 18-match unbeaten run in the longest format of the game. The last time they tasted defeated in a home Test was back in 2012.

Speaking on Macquarie Radio, Moody said that he will be holding his breath when Australia begin their tour of India.

“I think the Australia team has a lot of areas it needs to continue to develop. I will be holding my breath when this team jumps on the big bird and heads to India. It’s going to be messy, very messy,” said Moody.

India have been particularly ruthless under the captaincy of Virat Kohli lately. In the ongoing season, they have played eight Tests against New Zealand and England at home, winning seven of those and drawing one.

With batsmen in top form, and Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja forming a lethal partnership with the ball, Moody feels that Australia have a mountain to climb if they have to get anything out of the series.

“Not only Australia, England have just experienced it – it’s a very, very difficult place to win. I think Australia, in the position it is now, reinventing itself as a Test side, are going to go there with a huge mountain to climb,” the 51-year-old said.

“India have endless batsmen that can pile on runs and they have got two spinners that do it better than anyone else in the world in those conditions.”

India and Australia will face each other in a four-match Test series, with the first Test scheduled to begin in Pune on February 23, 2017.