Sydney, Dec 31 (IANS) Former Test captain Ian Chappell feels that if Australia can shut down Virender Sehwag and Sachin Tendulkar they can inflict a 4-0 whitewash on India like England did during the summer.
‘If Australia can shut down both Sehwag and Tendulkar, then India could well be propelled on a downhill slide similar to their recent precipitous one in England, which ended in a 4-0 series thrashing,’ he said.
Chappell said stopping Sehwag will be crucial in restricting India’s scoring. The former Australian captain said that by dismissing Sehwag early, Australia can reduce the Indian line-up’s effectiveness by around 50 per cent.
‘The length the Australians are currently bowling is the most testing the belligerent opener can face. He (Sehwag) loves it short outside off stump, but the Australians, operating on a fuller length, are more likely to exploit his lack of foot movement,’ said Chappell in his column in The Sunday Telegraph.
Chappell said Australian young bowling attack should find an answer to stop Tendulkar at his favourite ground, Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG).
‘The player the Australians haven’t yet found an answer for is Sachin Tendulkar. He looked in top form, and with the SCG being his favourite venue in Australia, they’ll need to find a solution quickly,’ he said.
Chappell is concerned with the form of India opener Gautam Gambhir.
‘Gambhir is in trouble, as he’s discomforted by the extra bounce. If he continues to poke suspiciously at deliveries outside off-stump like a nervous mouse nibbling at the cheese, the Australians will have no trouble springing the trap,’ he said.
Chappell feels that the second Test at the SCG provides the Australian team an opportunity to build on their rousing victory over India and continue what is a pace bowling-led recovery.
‘The penetrating form of Australia’s aggressive young pace bowler James Pattinson, combined with Peter Siddle’s rejuvenation and Ben Hilfenhaus’s successful return to the international arena, is incentive for the beleaguered batsmen to make a New Year’s resolution.
‘Knowing now that a score of around 350 could be enough to set up a win at the SCG, rather than needing to amass a huge total, might just be the tonic for the batsmen to do better. With skill as a given, being relaxed is probably second only to confidence in a Test batsman’s armoury,’ he said.
