Australian bowlers to watch out for in 2nd Test against India
Matches between India and Australia have always been thrilling to watch. Every single contest between the two top cricketing nations is full of exciting moments as every individual player wants to prove his mettle against the other.
The first Test of the series proved to be an absolute thriller as fans of the cricketing World enjoyed it till the last moment.
The stadium at Mohali witnessed an adventurous first Test match between India and Australia, as the host beat the resilient Australians by one wicket in a heart breaking game of cricket.
The team from South Asia held their nerve in the end and emerged as victors in an absorbing final day of the first Test. The Indians showed why they are the top ranked Test team in the current ICC rankings.
As a result, India the defending champions, retained the Border-Gavaskar trophy by winning the first game of the two match Test series. Previously, in the last Test series in 2008, India trounced Australia, 2-0, in a four match series to regain the Border-Gavaskar
Trophy.
In the longer version of the game, India has had the upper hand in the last 5 battles between the two cricketing giants, winning 3 of them. The other two matches were drawn. To be fair, http://www.senore.com/Cricket/India-c750 did have home ground advantage, as these five matches were played
in their own backyard.
Furthermore, when http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Australia-c746 last won a Test series in India it was in 2004. As expected, they had a great bowling unit. Australia housed the greatest line and length bowler in shape of, Glenn McGrath, and, the best leg spinner of all-times, namely Shane
Warne. The two champions were then backed up by Jason Gillespie and Michael Kasprowicz.
However, the current bowling resources for Kangaroos have dulled a bit. It is because of the retirement of the bowling legends like Warne and McGrath.
Let’s have a look at the current bowlers of Australia, who can pose a threat to India in the upcoming 2nd Test of the series.
Mitchell Johnson
Currently, Mitchell Johnson is the senior most Aussie bowler with 37 Test matches under his belt. As a genuine left arm quick bowler, Mitchell Johnson has built a reputation of hitting the helmets at 155 km/h.
Mainly, he angles the ball away from right hander and surprises the batsmen with his extra bounce and pace. His only weakness is that he hasn’t learnt to bring the ball back into the right handers, but still he has been very effective.
Overall, in 37 Test outings, the quickie has scalped 163 victims at an average of 28. Johnson struggled for form in England against http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Pakistan-c755 with the ball. Now, he has gathered his focus in India.
As a result the left armer took telling numbers of 5/64 in the first innings. He rattled the strong Indian batting line-up with his left arm angle, which is predominantly away from the right handers.
In the touring country, Johnson has played 5 matches, taking 18 wickets at a modest average of 35. So this is the record he will be eyeing to improve. Australia’s hopes rest on the shoulders of their premier quickie as they take on the top ranked side in
the 2nd Test on 9th October.
Ben Hilfenhaus
He is a right arm swing bowler capable of bowling predominantly over 140 km/h. As an out-swing bowler he is in Richard Hadlee’s mould of bowling. In his short career he has built up a good opening partnership along with his partner Doug Bollinger. In his
12 Test match career, he has so far taken 46 wickets at an average of 30.
Conditions in India might not suit his bowling, but he can still pose a threat with the old ball as he might get some reverse swing. He was instrumental in Australia’s fight back in the 2nd innings at Mohali, taking 4/57.
Hilfenhaus might surprise a few Indian batsmen with his accuracy and swing with the old ball.
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