Muralitharan To Be Australia's Spin Consultant
Jun 19, 2014, 11:44 IST
Sydney: Australia have received a huge boost with spin legend Muttiah Muralitharan joinng the Australian coaching staff as a spin consultant for the upcoming series against Pakistan which will be played in the UAE in October.
Muralitharan's knowledge of the doosra will benefit the Australians immensely who have struggled against Saeed Ajmal's doosra in the past. Australia play a T20I, three ODIs and two Tests against Pakistan in October.
Speaking to the Cricket Australia website, Muralitharan said, "I'm very much excited; I know the Australian team is a very good side, but hopefully I can have a little bit of input to help them do well in the series against Pakistan. Those conditions might help spinners and I know a few tricks that might help them on what to do as I have played a lot of matches in those conditions in the UAE and hopefully I can help them a little bit."
Muralitharan has had an acrimonious relationship with Australia, having been called for chucking twice in 1995 and in 1998. However, he has recently featured in the Australian Big Bash League for the Melbourne Renegades franchise.
Australian coach Darren Lehmann said that Muralitharan's role would be similar to the role played by Shane Warne during the recent tour of South Africa where he acted as their spin consultant. Muralitharan will be currently mentoring Nathan Lyon in Sri Lanka. The 42-year old spinner said, "Ajmal is a difficult customer for all the best batsmen in the world, but he bowls a little bit similar to me so perhaps if I can bowl to the Australian batsman it might help a little bit and give them some tips. Lyon has been bowling brilliantly but hopefully I can help him a little bit on how to bowl in these subcontinent conditions, on how to use the conditions and how to set up the field."
Lehmann said that Australia have won just one series in India in the last 40 years and this highlighted the ineffectiveness of Australia's batsmen to tackle spinners in those conditions.
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Muralitharan's knowledge of the doosra will benefit the Australians immensely who have struggled against Saeed Ajmal's doosra in the past. Australia play a T20I, three ODIs and two Tests against Pakistan in October.
Speaking to the Cricket Australia website, Muralitharan said, "I'm very much excited; I know the Australian team is a very good side, but hopefully I can have a little bit of input to help them do well in the series against Pakistan. Those conditions might help spinners and I know a few tricks that might help them on what to do as I have played a lot of matches in those conditions in the UAE and hopefully I can help them a little bit."
Muralitharan has had an acrimonious relationship with Australia, having been called for chucking twice in 1995 and in 1998. However, he has recently featured in the Australian Big Bash League for the Melbourne Renegades franchise.
Australian coach Darren Lehmann said that Muralitharan's role would be similar to the role played by Shane Warne during the recent tour of South Africa where he acted as their spin consultant. Muralitharan will be currently mentoring Nathan Lyon in Sri Lanka. The 42-year old spinner said, "Ajmal is a difficult customer for all the best batsmen in the world, but he bowls a little bit similar to me so perhaps if I can bowl to the Australian batsman it might help a little bit and give them some tips. Lyon has been bowling brilliantly but hopefully I can help him a little bit on how to bowl in these subcontinent conditions, on how to use the conditions and how to set up the field."
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