Aussies to tap into inputs on Ashwin from warm-up tie: Head
ADELAIDE:AUSTRALIA batsman Travis Head is looking to pick the brains of his junior state teammate Harry Nielsen to tackle offspinner R Ashwin during the opening Test against India, starting here on December 6.
South Australia’s Nielsen (100), a left-handed batsman like Head, negotiated Ashwin (2/122) well and scored a hundred in the warm-up game between Cricket Australia XI and India.
“Harry Nielsen (Cricket Australia XI) played him well enough in the practice game, so I am looking forward to having a word with him (about facing Ashwin),” said Head.
Ashwin has had a lot of success against left-handers during his career and Australia are likely to have at least four lefties in their playing XI but Head said they are capable of countering the Indian’s threat.
“I faced Ashwin a couple times in IPL before this, so don’t have much experience of playing him in Test cricket. But we have batsmen who can play spin well,” he added.
“Look, it is not just about one spinner. If we play six righthanders, they will play Ravindra Jadeja who is another good bowler. I think it will be a good contest.”
Head said Australia will look to be aggressive in their action rather than with words.
“I haven’t played much Test cricket. In ODIS fielding on the boundary, it is not easy to get talkative. But I am sure we will look to play fierce cricket and look to be aggressive. Words are cheap. It is all about actions.”