IT’S ALL ON THE LYON
Bowlers backed to deliver goods against India
AUSTRALIAN fast bowling spearhead Mitchell Starc has backed Josh Hazlewood, Pat Cummins and Nathan Lyon to deal with an unforgiving workload this summer to deliver a series victory over India.
Australia has rolled the dice for the first Test in forecast hot conditions, axing the safety net of Mitch Marsh’s bowling to shore up its batting with Peter Handscomb at No.5.
This places added pressure on Nathan Lyon — the man who destroyed India last time they visited Adelaide with 12 wickets in 2014 — who may have a target on his back with Australia fielding only four frontline bowlers.
“Gazza speaks for himself, over 300 Tests wickets, loves playing in Australia and performing on the big stage. You have a left-armer, a right armer who is very Glenn McGrath like and Pat Cummins who smacks the wicket, bowls a fast bumper and can swing them both ways,” said Starc.
Virat Kohli, ready to spearhead India’s bid for their maiden Test series win in Australia, predicts the opposition will “go hard” and attempt to get into his teammates’ heads.
But the superstar added he expects that in every Test, suggesting this summer will be played in better spirits than recent heated Border-Gavaskar contests.
“I don’t see stuff happening that has happened in the past, where both teams have crossed the line ... (and) lost control,” Kohli said.
“I don’t see anything radical happening ... but the competitiveness will be there.”
“When situations are difficult, you do find ways to upset the batsman’s rhythm and I feel a bit of banter there is not harmful at all.” WHERE is Australian cricket at right now? What does Australian cricket stand for?
This Test series will show us the character of the team and answer these questions.
At the moment, no team fears Australia; India believes it can win.
Today starts the long journey back for Australia to regain its presence in the world game, to reassert itself at the top of the tree, to again become one of the best teams in the world.
How do they do that? STAND UP TO VIRAT KOHLI Australia has to compete hard against India, the number one Test team in the world and especially Virat Kohli, the number one batsman in the world.
As a bowling tactic, I would go after him with the short ball, and pepper him, again and again. Unsettle him. Then set him up, follow up the short stuff with deliveries that are wide, for him to drive.
He loves to score, and will try to jump in to wide balls, which brings the slips in to play. If Australia nails the captain, the rest will fall. But make no mistake, this Indian team is full of class in every department. IS SPIN THEIR GREATEST WEAPON? Is this the tour in which Ravi Ashwin will perform?
He only has 59 wickets outside Asia at an average of 40. The best spinners in the world perform home and away, not just in their own conditions.
This is a big tour for Ashwin if he gets the nod as I would play the left-arm wrist spin of Yadav or both. THE HOME TEAM HAS TO SHOW SOME REAL FIGHT