IND vs AUS: Rank Turners Could Backfire, Says Murali Kartik Ahead Of 4-Match Series

Murali Kartik, a former left-arm spinner, has urged India against creating spin-friendly grounds for the upcoming four-match Test series against Australia.

When Australia last played a Test series against India in 2017, left-armer Steve O’Keefe ripped through the hosts’ batting lineup in the first match in Pune.
O’Keefe took 12 wickets, including two six-wicket hauls, and was named Player of the Match. Nathan Lyon, an off-spinner competing in the forthcoming Border-Gavaskar Trophy, too claimed five wickets.

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Despite losing the first Test by a massive 333 runs, India went on to win the four-match series 2-1.

Murali Kartik, who was a member of the national team in 2004 when India last suffered a Test series loss at home to Australia, claimed that Indian hitters had recently struggled against spin.

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“Playing spinners on a flat deck isn’t the problem. We must admit that our batters have struggled against quality spin bowling on tracks that have offered turns. I don’t know what kind of tracks will be in the offing but rank turners could backfire,” Murali Kartikwas quoted as saying to PTI.

“Axar Patel should get to play as the third spinner”: Murali Kartik

Kartik further stated that if the pitch begins to flip early in the match, Axar Patel should be called in to replace Ravi Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja as the third spinner.

“If it is a flatter deck, then Kuldeep could be a good choice as he has the skills to take the pitch out of the equation. If it starts turning from the second day onwards, Axar could come in. But if you ask me, invariably the third spinner will be under-bowled as you expect your two main guys to do the job,” he added.

India has won the Border-Gavaskar Trophy in the last three test matches—at home in 2016–17, in Australia in 2018–19, and in 2020–21—all by a score of 2-1 during the course of a four-match series.

Also Read: IND vs AUS: “I Would Not Mind Seeing KL Rahul At No.5 In Tests”: MSK Prasad Chooses Between KL Rahul And Shubman Gill For The Opening Position

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