NEW DELHI: Ravichandran Ashwin is set to pose Australia’s biggest threat in the upcoming four-game Test series and former head coach Ravi Shastri has even predicted the Indian spinner’s form could decide the series outcome .
Indian bowlers are even helping Australian batters hone their skills to counter the threat of rotation in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. Ashwin lookalike Mahesh Pithiya turned out to be the one who played a major role in the nets for Australia.
Pithiya also revealed he took out Australia vice-captain Steve Smith 5-6 times in the net. But Smith doesn’t seem to have been bothered by his inability to tackle the spin, saying he doesn’t give too much thought to the impact of India’s star spinner on the show.
“There’s been a lot of off-spinners we’ve played with and Mahesh is one of them. He plays a similar style (to) Ashwin. We don’t think too much. Ash is a bowler quality but we have the tools in our kit bag to counter that,” Smith told reporters at a press conference.
He glanced down the pitch and the good length point at the end looks pretty dry.
“Pretty dry, especially one end. I think it will take a bit of rotation, especially the left arm spinner which will take it into our southpaws. There’s a pretty dry section there,” he said. -he adds.
But Smith also said he wouldn’t read the track too much.
“Other than that I can’t really get a good gauge on it. I don’t think there will be a whole lot of rebounds in the wicket, I think it will be quite slippery for crimps and maybe a bit more up-down movement as the game progresses.
“The cracks looked pretty loose. I’m not quite sure – we’ll wait and see.”
Smith seemed quite pleased with the preparation.
“We had a few good sessions in Bangalore and now here too. The boys are preparing well. I think it will be a bit slippery, slow but not quite sure,” Smith said.
However, he also confirmed that Cameron Green was unable to perform.
“He hasn’t even faced the fast bowlers so it’s highly unlikely that he will play the 1st Test,” he said.
He also indicated that Scott Boland’s natural length will suit the surfaces in India.
“Hazlewood’s injury is a big loss for us but Lance (Morris) is a good bowler. Boland has been good. His natural length will suit this type of court. Lance obviously has pace in the air,” Smith said. .
(With PTI inputs)
Indian bowlers are even helping Australian batters hone their skills to counter the threat of rotation in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. Ashwin lookalike Mahesh Pithiya turned out to be the one who played a major role in the nets for Australia.
Pithiya also revealed he took out Australia vice-captain Steve Smith 5-6 times in the net. But Smith doesn’t seem to have been bothered by his inability to tackle the spin, saying he doesn’t give too much thought to the impact of India’s star spinner on the show.
“There’s been a lot of off-spinners we’ve played with and Mahesh is one of them. He plays a similar style (to) Ashwin. We don’t think too much. Ash is a bowler quality but we have the tools in our kit bag to counter that,” Smith told reporters at a press conference.
He glanced down the pitch and the good length point at the end looks pretty dry.
“Pretty dry, especially one end. I think it will take a bit of rotation, especially the left arm spinner which will take it into our southpaws. There’s a pretty dry section there,” he said. -he adds.
But Smith also said he wouldn’t read the track too much.
“Other than that I can’t really get a good gauge on it. I don’t think there will be a whole lot of rebounds in the wicket, I think it will be quite slippery for crimps and maybe a bit more up-down movement as the game progresses.
“The cracks looked pretty loose. I’m not quite sure – we’ll wait and see.”
Smith seemed quite pleased with the preparation.
“We had a few good sessions in Bangalore and now here too. The boys are preparing well. I think it will be a bit slippery, slow but not quite sure,” Smith said.
However, he also confirmed that Cameron Green was unable to perform.
“He hasn’t even faced the fast bowlers so it’s highly unlikely that he will play the 1st Test,” he said.
He also indicated that Scott Boland’s natural length will suit the surfaces in India.
“Hazlewood’s injury is a big loss for us but Lance (Morris) is a good bowler. Boland has been good. His natural length will suit this type of court. Lance obviously has pace in the air,” Smith said. .
(With PTI inputs)
