Former Australian Cricketer Ian Chappell believes the Indian bowling attack is as strong as the Australian bowling attack ongoing into the World Test Championship final against Australia, starting on June 7 at the Oval. Team India will play their second consecutive final in England losing their first encounter against New Zealand in 2021.
For the last six to seven years, India has been a force to be reckoned with in Test cricket. They have made a huge leap in the longest format of the game, beating Australia twice in Australia and drawing a test series in England, and continuing fine form in the home series in red-ball cricket.
Speaking to Revsportz, Ian Chappell feels that the Indian bowling lineup is not any less than Australia’s attack as they have got the likes of Mohammed Shami and Mohammed Siraj in their team, who have performed for the team very well in overseas conditions and also hailed Indian spinners Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja for their contribution to the team success in the longer format of the game.
“I don’t think the Indian bowling attack is any less to Australia. Shami is a very good bowler and Siraj has been in a very good rhythm in the IPL. They will pose as much difficulty for the Australians as the Australians will for the Indians,” Ian Chappell said.
“If you ask me I think India should go in with two spinners. Ashwin and Jadeja have both been fantastic for India and you need to go in with your best bowlers. And even if Jadeja doesn’t pick too many wickets he will not leak runs and hold one end up.
“That will give the fast bowlers the breather they need. And Jadeja’s batting has been fantastic at the Test level in the last few years. Coming to Ashwin he is one of the best of this generation. He thinks deeply and that stands him apart,” he further added.
Indian pacers Mohammed Shami and Mohammed Siraj will be crucial for India’s chance against Australia as they can be lethal for the team’s success in England. Both pacers will be coming into the contest after their successful season in the Indian Premier League and will look to continue their form against Australia in Oval Conditions.
Ravichandran Ashwin Has A Slight Mental Edge Over The Australians – Ian Chappell
Former Australian skipper Ian Chappell feels that Ravichandran Ashwin can make use of the Australia left-arm pacer Mitchell Starc’s footmarks on the surface, as the Indian veteran will have a slight edge over the Australian with his emphatic win over Australia in the Border Gavaskar Trophy and reckons that he can be a key player for India in lower down the order.
“With Starc bowling from over the wicket, Ashwin will also have the footmarks to use from day 3 onwards. Also, he has a slight mental edge over the Australians from the last Border Gavaskar Trophy,” he continued.
“And when you add his batting at number 8, he is a key player for India and I think they should play both spinners for the simple reason that they are both quality players with plenty of experience,” Ian Chappell concluded
It will be interesting to see, whether Umesh Yadav or Jaydev Unadakat, or Shardul Thakur take up the role of the third pacer in the team, as they will play a huge role in supporting their primary pacers Mohammed Siraj and Mohammed Shami in the middle overs.