“Have great respect for India bowlers”
SYDNEY: Australia coach Justin Langer on Wednesday said he has great respect for the Indian bowling line-up but his team’s batsmen have become familiar enough with their tactics to be ready for the challenge they will throw up in the upcoming series.
India and Australia will clash in a full series, starting with the limited-overs leg, from November 27 here. Langer said the contest would likely be an exciting one thanks to the two teams being evenly-matched.
“Well, we know Jasprit Bumrah, world-class bowler, (Mohammed) Shami, really good opening combination. We have great respect for that and guys have seen a fair bit of them, through the IPL and the last couple of summers,” Langer said.
“We have played 14 ODIs against India in the last few years and it’s seven all,” he added. India are touring Australia with a bowling attack, led by Jasprit Bumrah, and comprising Shami, Navdeep Saini and Shardul Thakur. The spin department features Yuzvendra Chahal along with Kuldeep Yadav and Ravindra Jadeja.
Langer said the Australians would be ready for the challenge. “...our guys have seen a lot of each other and that’s what I love about the contest, you see which teams are growing, which players are growing. We have played a bit against each other now. So, we have great respect, great respect for their spinners, great respect for Bumrah, Shami, their other bowlers (Navdeep) Saini.
“Our guys know they are going to be on their toes all the time in all forms of the game against the Indian bowling attack.
“But they are working hard, they have seen a bit now and they will be ready for it,” the 50-year-old asserted.
Langer sidestepped queries on India missing star opener Rohit Sharma and pacer Ishant Sharma due to injury, saying that it was not his concern.
“It is not our business, we have our own challenges, we will come together for the first time as a group on the morning of the game, so it’s up to India who they choose,” he said.
“We have literally zero control (over it). One thing I have learnt through the Covid-19 period is that if you get caught up in things you cannot control, then you literally go crazy.”