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SYDNEY: Ravindra Jadeja’s void is difficult to fill but the Indian team management has asked Axar Patel to be mentally ready as he will be asked to bat in the top six as and when required.
With India’s top six consisting of all right-handers and Rishabh Pant not currently in the crowd, the need for a left-handed batsman to disrupt the rhythm of opposition is paramount.
Axar was sent in at number 5 against Pakistan but the move did not pay off as he was run out for one.
“They (Pakistan) had left-arm spinner Nawaz and leg-spinner Shadab, so it was important to send a left-armer and I was asked to go,” Axar, who had a good performance against Netherlands, told media persons in the mixed zone.
“Since our top six is right-handed, I have been told by the management that if required I will be promoted in the middle overs and I should be ready for that. That role has already been assigned and I have performed in practice matches,” said the Gujarat all-rounder -player.
After a nightmare single over against Pakistan where he was hit for three sixes by Iftikhar Ahmed, Axar bounced back strongly against the minnows with a superb performance of 2/18 in 4 overs.
“The pitch was a bit dry and the ball stopped and came. The ball didn’t grip exactly so I was told to hit the deck hard as it was difficult to hit through the line. So that was the plan,” Axar said after the match as both he and R Ashwin bottled up the Dutch.
Axar said when he analyzed the Pakistan match, he found that it was one strange match where the batsman had the upper hand and he needed to get over the disappointment quickly.
“After the Pakistan match, I sat with video analysts and bowling coach. Actually, there will be days when a batsman will go against your odds.
“I analyzed and out of three sixes that were hit against me, I only bowled one bad ball. You’ll have those days, but if you keep thinking, you can’t survive.”
South Africa will have several left-handers in the top order and Axar’s game against them is not great as he goes for almost 9 runs per over against the Proteas.
“I don’t think too much about the SA game. Will go there and then take a call and what needs to be done.”
The match in Perth will be played at the Optus Stadium and there will be good bounce on offer with Kagiso Rabada and Anrich Nortje in working.
“We have to play normal fearless cricket and not think that we are facing Rabada Nortje on a springboard. We also have Bhuvi, Shami and Arshdeep. We have to continue our form and see what happens.”
For spinners, Australian pitches are a tough proposition, admits the slow left-arm orthodox bowler.
“The main difference between India and Australian wickets is bounce. In India, a batsman cannot easily swing on the back foot and negotiate the low bounce.
“In Australia there’s not much purchase of the track. Beating someone through the line isn’t difficult when you’re on the back foot.”
However, in the midgame there is a lot of communication about behavior patterns of tracks.
“There is communication and if we feel something is unusual and track changes, we send messages for players to come.”
With India’s top six consisting of all right-handers and Rishabh Pant not currently in the crowd, the need for a left-handed batsman to disrupt the rhythm of opposition is paramount.
Axar was sent in at number 5 against Pakistan but the move did not pay off as he was run out for one.
“They (Pakistan) had left-arm spinner Nawaz and leg-spinner Shadab, so it was important to send a left-armer and I was asked to go,” Axar, who had a good performance against Netherlands, told media persons in the mixed zone.
“Since our top six is right-handed, I have been told by the management that if required I will be promoted in the middle overs and I should be ready for that. That role has already been assigned and I have performed in practice matches,” said the Gujarat all-rounder -player.
After a nightmare single over against Pakistan where he was hit for three sixes by Iftikhar Ahmed, Axar bounced back strongly against the minnows with a superb performance of 2/18 in 4 overs.
“The pitch was a bit dry and the ball stopped and came. The ball didn’t grip exactly so I was told to hit the deck hard as it was difficult to hit through the line. So that was the plan,” Axar said after the match as both he and R Ashwin bottled up the Dutch.
Axar said when he analyzed the Pakistan match, he found that it was one strange match where the batsman had the upper hand and he needed to get over the disappointment quickly.
“After the Pakistan match, I sat with video analysts and bowling coach. Actually, there will be days when a batsman will go against your odds.
“I analyzed and out of three sixes that were hit against me, I only bowled one bad ball. You’ll have those days, but if you keep thinking, you can’t survive.”
South Africa will have several left-handers in the top order and Axar’s game against them is not great as he goes for almost 9 runs per over against the Proteas.
“I don’t think too much about the SA game. Will go there and then take a call and what needs to be done.”
The match in Perth will be played at the Optus Stadium and there will be good bounce on offer with Kagiso Rabada and Anrich Nortje in working.
“We have to play normal fearless cricket and not think that we are facing Rabada Nortje on a springboard. We also have Bhuvi, Shami and Arshdeep. We have to continue our form and see what happens.”
For spinners, Australian pitches are a tough proposition, admits the slow left-arm orthodox bowler.
“The main difference between India and Australian wickets is bounce. In India, a batsman cannot easily swing on the back foot and negotiate the low bounce.
“In Australia there’s not much purchase of the track. Beating someone through the line isn’t difficult when you’re on the back foot.”
However, in the midgame there is a lot of communication about behavior patterns of tracks.
“There is communication and if we feel something is unusual and track changes, we send messages for players to come.”
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