New Delhi:
Australia's difficulty in playing spin in Bangladesh prior to landing on the Indian shores hasn't cast a doubt in the minds of their skipper Steve Smith and Co. over facing a familiar challenge against India in the upcoming ODIs in India, beginning in Chennai this Sunday. The trend of flat One-day International pitches offers some hope for the largely spin-vulnerable Aussie line-up.
Former Australia captain Michael Clarke suggested this almost-unwritten-rule of flat decks would even out some of Australia's shortcomings. "Conditions in Test matches and ODIs are a lot different. You get flat pitches to bat on in ODIs and T20s. 95 per cent of the pitches around the world are similar in ODIs," Clarke told TOI on Tuesday(September 12). "You don't have to worry about dealing with spinners on Day 3, 4 and 5."
The scores from the last ODI series Australia played in India - in 2013 - lend credence to Clarke's views as 300s and 350s were scored and chased down with consummate ease. This is a departure from the early days of Clarke's career where turners awaited visiting teams in India even in ODIs. On his first tour in 2003, Australia defeated India in a tri-series final in Kolkata on a pitch that turned square from the first ball.
"It is a combination of quality of spinners and the pitches," Clarke said. "Those days you faced very high-quality spinners in Harbhajan and Anil Kumble. In Test cricket, it became tougher. Ashwin and Jadeja too have done that in Tests. These days and on these kinds of pitches, Australian batsmen shouldn't have much of a problem. If Australia can win the first game, they will be in with a real shot."
