Indian spin bowler Ravichandran Ashwin feels that bigger boundaries in Australia will give the bowlers freedom to attack, unlike smaller Indian grounds where one is forced to employ defensive tactics.
Ashwin Advices Bowlers Ahead of T20 world Cup 2022
Indian team is currently based in Perth for a week before they move to Brisbane for the ICC warm-up games ahead of the T20 World Cup 2022. India will play their first match of the ICC T20 World Cup 2022 against Pakistan on October 23 in Melbourne.
Ashwin who did not play in India’s first warm-up game against Western Australia XI had also seen the first T20I match between England and Australia game here on Sunday alongside some of his teammates.
“We can get caught up with what happens in T20s and bilaterals back home. Only fair to say that bowlers are getting hit around the park but we also need to understand that boundaries are very close to the 30-yard circle in India.
“When you come to Australia, the boundaries are far bigger, gives license to the bowlers to work with. It is also very important to know the lengths you have to bowl so you got to be brave enough to take 50-50 options in these places,” said Ashwin after the game at the WACA ground.
Ahead of the T20 World Cup 2022, Rohit Sharma-led Indian cricket team has landed in Australia in advance while another full-strength Indian squad won an ODI series against South Africa at home.
“Two weeks to go for the T20 World Cup and it is a marquee event and we are taking it as seriously we can. We are here to acclimatise because we have never been in Australia during this time.
“So it was important that we got here early and got used to the pace and bounce. There are a few guys who are new to the team so it will be a great time for them to acclimatise.”
Talking about the warm-up game, he said: “Pretty much a game of good cricket and no matter how many times you come to Australia and England, it is very important you put in those miles early on.
“By the time the first game comes, you need to be up and running and sure about what the conditions are going to be.
“Even watching games like yesterday, it is very important to understand how the game is being played in this part of the world,” said the wily spinner referring to the England-Australia game at the Optus Stadium.
Ashwin said that India’s recent victories on Australian grounds might draw confidence for them ahead of the ICC T20 world Cup 2022.
“Whatever you say when you have special memories in a particular place you are going to come there backing yourself to the hilt.
“The last one that happened went our way but we also played some good white-ball cricket on that leg. That is something we can draw from. We have played a lot of cricket in Australia in the last decade.
“Everything put together we are looking to make a quick adaption and no better place than Perth to get used to the Australian conditions, the bounce, and speed.”
India plays Pakistan 12 months after their first loss to the arch-rivals in World Cup history. The head-to-head still stands at 12-1in favor of India but the PCB chief recently said the “billion dollar” Indian team has finally started to respect Pakistan as an opponent.
“Until you said that, I didn’t know he made a statement like that. That is one way of dealing with it. But look it is a game of cricket, whatever political tensions, we don’t play very often.
“The rivalry is big. It means a lot to the people of both countries but at the end of the day you do understand as a sportsperson that wins and losses are part of the game…
“…especially in this format, the margins are going to be so close and to respect an opposition is not something that comes with wins and defeats it comes in the way you are made and we definitely respect the Pakistan side and so do they.”
India will play their first match of the ICC T20 World Cup 2022 against Pakistan on October 23 in Melbourne Cricket Ground, Melbourne.
