Nathan Hauritz a big gamble for Australia in Ashes Series
Nathan Hauritz cannot be classified as a new entrant for the Aussies in International Cricket. He has been around for 6 years in the Australian camp since he made his debut back in 2004. One can certainly opine that he is a much matured cricketer to what
he was many years ago. So far he has played 18 tests and has taken over sixty wickets. It makes one wonder, that for a player who has been around for almost six years the numbers of tests played are very low compared to what should truly have been the case.
Nonetheless he remains to be a promising cricketer.
Now when Ashes is just around the corner, with only one month left till the battle begins a lot of spotlight is being thrown on the role of Nathan Hauritz. This off break bowler from http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Queensland-c834 would have to prove that his form of late would not hinder him
to perform well in the upcoming Ashes series. Question marks have arisen regarding his current form. Would he really be able to provide the balance and variety in Aussie bowling line up against a very consistent English side.
During the Indian series Nathan Hauritz was chosen to provide a much needed spin variation in the Australian line up. No one expects him to be Shane Warne or to achieve his feats. It is simply expected of him to bowl a decent spell where he could take a
couple or more wickets to keep the opposition on check.
Unfortunately in India he was unable to do that. Though he did get wickets in both of the test matches but he was unable to put any sort of pressure on the Indians and they were able to score freely off his bowling. He was not very economical either.
In http://www.senore.com/Cricket/India-c750 conditions for spin bowling are ideal and one expects an off spinner to create problems for the batsmen on turning and slow tracks. Spin bowling does have this ability create this sense of restlessness and insecurity in the mind of the batsman.
In the first Test match he took three wickets, two in first innings and one in second but didn’t trouble any of the top batsmen in fact the two wickets which he managed to get were of Zaheer Khan.
In the second Test match he again disappointed by not delivering the goods when it mattered. It was a crucial match for the Aussies and to be able to level the series 1-1 they required a much needed win.
In the second innings where India had to chase a total of 207, Ricky Ponting needed all of his bowlers to hunt for wickets right from the start. He conceded 76 runs of his 12 over’s and took only one wicket only. Not only was he expensive but he helped the
Indians put pressure on the opposition by keeping the scoreboard ticking.
Batsmen, by playing Hauritz with ease also gained confidence to play other bowlers. Ponting was also criticized of not placing the fielders in the right areas for him but on the whole his performance was disappointing in the match and the whole series.
Encouragement and backing has come for Hauritz from his team mates and coach. Tim Nielson the Australian coach came to his rescue on Friday by emphasizing that the “lack of bounce” could be the reason for off spinner not bowling well during the Test series.
He suggested that because of slowness of the wickets and lack of bounce he was unable to get the assistance which he normally gets in http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Australia-c746.
Shane Warne also came to his rescue by emphasizing that he is not the only bowler to be taken out of the park in India, all prominent spinners including Warne have been punished in the past and this is just a learning curve for him. Warne also gave him some
much needed consolation and said that he was willing to offer any kind of assistance and coaching to him for the upcoming Ashes series.
For Nathan Hauritz, Ashes Series would be nothing more than a big Test of his character, nerves and his talent. He has a lot of positives to take from the Indian series in which though expensive he did manage to take some wickets. He has to play in three
Sheffield Shield matches which would give him some practice for the upcoming Ashes series.
Australian pitches are harder and produce ample bounce which should support his style of off spin bowling. Not so long ago when http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Pakistan-c755 played the test series in Australia, Hauritz performed splendidly by taking 18 wickets. In the series against Pakistan
he got two five wicket haul and he was also a main contributor in their thrilling victory in the Sydney Test. He has now been given a lifeline by his team mates to redeem himself and he must surely grab it. It would be one challenging series for this Queenslander.
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