Learning to play spin cannot happen in sacrificed pitches in Australia: Ian Chappell slams batters
Border-Gavaskar Trophy: Its is not an impossible task to bat on testing Indian conditions, former captain Ian Chappell has said in his column. The legendary player has lashed out at the team’s methods.
Australia need to find ways to survive in testing Indian conditions, said Ian Chappell. (PTI Photo)
By India Today Sports Desk: Australia will be playing India in the third Test match of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy in Indore on March 1. Australia are 2-0 down and will have to draw at least one Test match to reach the final of the World Test Championship.
The team, currently under the leadership of Steve Smith after Pat Cummins was forced to leave the tour midway, are yet to find their feet against spin bowling. Australia have been folded in just over one session in both Test matches, which has made for a sorry look on the current leaders in Test cricket.
Former Australia captain Ian Chappell has lashed out at the preparation of the Australian side and said that Australia could not have discovered the tricks to spin batting in sacrificed pitches Down Under.
“You don’t discover how to play good spin bowling later in life on a scarified Australian pitch just prior to a vital tour of India,” Chappell wrote in his column at ESPNcricinfo.
“You have to learn good footwork – coming three paces out of your crease or retreating quickly onto the back foot – at a young age,” he further added.
Stating that Australia need to learn from Rohit Sharma, the former player said that Australia need to quickly figure out how to survive in the Indian conditions.
“A successful player needs to quickly work out how to survive the first ten minutes on a typical Indian pitch that encourages spin, and hope he enjoys a share of luck,” Chappell advised.
“If he plays sensibly, like Rohit Sharma has admirably shown during the series, batting isn’t impossible on testing Indian pitches,” Chappell concluded.
