'It is important to know that' - R Ashwin gives key hint on Australian grounds to Indian bowlers

Ravichandran Ashwin (Image Source: Twitter)

India have reached Australia ahead of the much-awaited 20-20 World Cup. With regard to the team, they are in good morale and won the last bilateral T20I series against South Africa 2-1. However, the one concern that is nagging the team management is the lack of ability to contain runs in the death.

The Indian spinner Ravichandran Ashwin, who is with the main team to take part in the 20-20 World Cup, said that the sizes of boundaries must be taken into account while slamming bowlers for their poor performances. After the practice match against Western Australia that India played on October 10, Monday, the spinner said that one needs to think before coming up with criticisms.

“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,” Ashwin was quoted as saying after the match.

We have never been in Australia in this time: Ashwin

Further, the Indian spinner highlighted the bigger grounds in Australia and said that the bowlers have a lot of options to come up with. For the unversed, the Melbourne Cricket Ground has a field size of 171 metres x 146 metres and pretty huge boundaries as compared to Indian grounds.

“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,” Ashwin added further.

“Two weeks to go for the 20-20 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,” said the spinner when asked about India arriving early in Australia.

India are all set to take on Babar Azam and his men on October 23 at Melbourne Cricket Ground. The Men in Blue have a fresh set of bowlers and it remains to see if it can prove effective in the high-voltage clash. The absence of Jasprit Bumrah and Ravindra Jadeja is a cause of concern and Axar Patel, the allrounder has done his best so far to make up for Jadeja’s loss.