Australia batsman Usman Khawaja says India’s possible strategy to pick a bagful of spinners for Friday’s first Test in Chennai could backfire if the home side’s slow bowlers feel the weight of expectation with over a billion fans on their backs.
It would surprise few observers if MS Dhoni’s attack features left-arm spinner Pragyan Ojha, offspinners Ravi Ashwin and Harbhajan Singh and spin-bowling allrounder Ravindra Jadeja on Friday.
Australia may have played into India’s hands by falling for 235 all out, with spin claiming nine wickets, in response to India A’s first innings of 451 in the three-day tour match which ended in a draw on Monday in Chennai.
While the tourists made a better fist of things in the second dig by scoring 3-195, there’s clearly a feeling in the home camp that spin is the best method to attack Michael Clarke’s men.
Khawaja hit an unbeaten 30 in Australia’s second innings.
“We’ve had enough practice and we are as ready as we are ever going to be,” Khawaja said.
“The Indian spinners have a lot of pressure on them because if it is a turning wicket, they will be expected to take wickets.
“It was just good for us to get out there and put ourselves under a bit of pressure in a game scenario.
“The players took a lot out of that.”
Australia’s fielding coach and Chennai Kings IPL assistant coach Steve Rixon says the red-dirt pitch of Chennai’s Chidambaram Stadium will suit spin but also reverse-swing.
“It tends to be more of a slow turner so the spinners need to be patient and keep bowling in the danger zone and allow the pitch’s natural variations to take effect,” Rixon told AAP.
“But it also means that the ball is worn more quickly and starts to go reverse-swing.
“Our pace bowlers can make use of that.”