Australia opening batter names biggest threat from team India in BGT series
India vs Australia (Image Credit: Twitter)
The much-awaited Border-Gavaskar Trophy is set to start on February 9. It is much-anticipated series as the World Number Two Test side, India hasn’t lost it after the 2014-15 series. That series was played in Australia and was MS Dhoni’s last series before Test retirement. Since then, the Asian side has won three series against their rivals (2017, 2018-19, and 2020-21). Notably, in two of these series (2017 and 2020-21), India off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin played a massive role.
Six years ago, the right-arm bowler was the second-highest wicket-taker with 21 wickets in the series. Apart from this, in 2020-21, the two-time World Championship winner took 12 wickets and was the fourth-highest wicket-taker. Meanwhile, former Australia opening batter, Matthew Renshaw has said that Ashwin would be the biggest threat for Australia in the upcoming series.
The former has said that Ashwin is difficult to face and uses his variation smartly.
“Ashwin is difficult to face. He is a smart bowler with a lot of variations and he uses them very well, but you do get used to him once you’ve faced him for a while,” Renshaw, 26, was quoted as saying by Australian Associated Press on Wednesday.
“I think the big challenge from Ashwin and any off-spinner in spinning conditions to a left-hander is the lbw threat.” Renshaw indicated Australia should be wary of Ashwin’s delivery that doesn’t spin and has caused a lot of LBW dismissals.
You have to be ready for Ravichandran Ashwin’s straighter one as well: Matthew Renshaw
The left-handed, Renshaw added that it is important for a batter to be ready for the straight ball which might be trapped them lbw.
“Obviously everyone thinks about the one that turns and gets you caught at slip, but the big one is the lbw when it doesn’t spin. You just have to be ready for that one.
“I think two years batting at No.5 helped me with facing spin. I know my game a lot better now and I am a lot more comfortable in different situations,” he added.
