Ex-Australia skipper Steve hails Indian spinner's 'incredible' ways and says visitors' chances of victory in India hinge on how they tackle the off-spinner
India's R Ashwin bowls on the fifth day of the one-off Test match against Bangladesh at Hyderabad on Monday. Pic/AFP
Monaco: Former Australia skipper Steve Waugh has described off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin as the 'Don Bradman of bowling' and said that he is the player the Australian team would need to overcome during its upcoming tour of India.
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Set to play a four-Test series against India starting on February 23 in Pune, Waugh felt the Australian team would have to keep calm under pressure and find ways to deal with Ashwin's bowling.
"Ashwin is basically the Bradman of bowling. What he is doing is quite incredible. I think he is the player we have to overcome. The Australians would have to look at ways to overcome Ashwin's bowling If Aussies can do that then we will have a chance.
Steve Waugh
'Stay calm under pressure'
The guys need to stay calm under pressure," said Waugh. "The way he is bowling at the moment, he is going to break a number of records. Ashwin's statistics are just mind-boggling," Waugh added.
The 51-year-old said that it would be a difficult series for Australia as India are a very settled side and Virat Kohli's captaincy is contagious. "India are playing very well at the moment and are a very settled side. Everyone is very comfortable in their roles. They are also playing a lot at home. It is very hard to beat them at home and that has been proved in the last couple of years," said Waugh.
"Virat's leadership is also very contagious. The Indian players feel positive and they feel they can do anything. The new Team India can achieve anything," he added.
Don't be silly, Dada
Waugh, however, felt that writing off the Australian team, as Sourav Ganguly had recently said, would be completely "foolish".
"Australia will provide a pretty good test to the formidable Indian side. There are players that India do not know much about and that would work to Aussies' advantage. The first Test will be very important. If the Aussies can get off to a good start and do well in the opening Test match, you never know. Anything can happen.
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