Former Australia pace bowler Michael Kasprowicz has labelled the pitch for the Ahmedabad Test as a “bat-a-thon” and criticised the pace bowlers, led by Mitchell Starc, for not bowling enough bouncers and toe-crushers.
Kasprowicz, who played 38 Tests and was part of the Australian side that won the 2004-05 series in India, added the team management also got its selection wrong by picking only two pacers instead of three for the fourth Test.
The final Test ended in a draw and India won the series 2-1.
“I’m going to call it nose and toes,” Kasprowicz said on SEN Radio on Monday.
“As a fast bowler, if we want to get stuck in, we either try and hit them on the nose or hit them on the toes. The fact that we’ve seen this wicket (in Ahmedabad)... it’s just a bat-athon.
“My point is, Australia has picked the wrong team, what they had to do was pick at least three fast bowlers. (We’ve got Cameron Green and MitchellStarc), but one is an all-rounder and Starc is always good with an older ball.”
The former pacer added Australia should have replicated the same template —three pacers and a spinner —which helped the team achieve a historic series win in 2004-05.
“Over 90 overs a day, the reason I say pick fast bowlers is that they can create something on these flat wickets.
“They could hit the pitch halfway down, send it up near the nose of the batsman, force him on the back foot to trap him in front for the LBW,” Kasprowicz said.
Jadeja CSK’s ‘X factor’
Ravindra Jadeja. File picture
Mumbai: Former India and Chennai Super Kings cricketer Harbhajan Singh feels that star all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja will be the X factor for the four-time champions in the upcoming edition of the Indian Premier League.
Jadeja has made a successful return to top-flight cricket after spending several months away due to a knee surgery, playing a vital role in India’s series win over Australia in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.
Harbhajan told Star Sports: “The one person who everyone should keep an eye on is Ravindra Jadeja, especially how he bats for CSK. He may be promoted up the order plus he has his four overs. If you look at it from a world cricket perspective, I don’t think there’s a better all-rounder than him.”
“I’m looking forward to seeing Jadeja in the IPL. He will be the X factor for me because he has been very successful in these conditions both as a bowler and a batsman.”
PTI