Washington Sundar Stood Out For Me - Andrew McDonald Impressed By The Off-Spinner

Australia’s assistant coach, Andrew McDonald lavishes praise on debutant Washington Sundar after the off-spinner picked three wickets in the first innings of the ongoing Test against Australia in Brisbane.

After injuries galore in the Indian camp, the management handed debuts to Washington Sundar and T Natarajan. Sundar was preferred over Kuldeep Yadav to replace Ravichandran Ashwin for the fourth Test at the Gabba.

On Day 1 Tim Paine won the toss and decided to bat first. After the openers were dismissed, Steve Smith and Marnus Labuschagne looked to dig in for a big partnership. However, as his senior Tamil Nadu teammate has done throughout the series, Sundar too troubled Steve Smith and eventually dismissed Australia’s talisman as his maiden Test wicket.

On the second day, Sundar castled Camron Green with a beautiful delivery and bowled Nathan Lyon. The 21-year-old bowled most overs by any Indian bowler in Australia’s first innings, not to forget he has only a 12-match first-class experience

Sundar filled that role of Ashwin quite well: Andrew McDonald

Andrew McDonald opined that the Indian bowlers, Washinton Sundar in particular, bowled consistent lines and lengths and didn’t allow the Aussie batsmen to post a big total. McDonald says that the debutant spinner was very disciplines – Sundar returned with 3/89 in 31 overs – and did well to fill the big boots of Ashwin.

The Rajasthan Royals coach maintains that the RCB spinner controlled the pace of the Australian innings and was the key in holding the Indian bowling from one end.

‘I thought they (the Indian bowlers) were very consistent. I thought Washington Sundar in particular was disciplined and fill that role of Ravi Ashwin quite well and kept it tight and was able to take some key wickets on the way,” Andrew McDonald said at the virtual press conference after day two.

“So, for me I suppose, he is a bowler who controlled well the tempo of the game and I think it stood out for me,” he added.

Also Read: Watch: Debutant Washington Sundar Castles Cameron Green With Fine Delivery