David Warner Looks in Great Touch - Ramesh Powar

Former India off-spinner, Ramesh Powar recently admitted disgraced Australian cricketer, David Warner, who has been out of cricket in recent past, has not lost his magical touch with the bat.

Meanwhile, Cricket Australia banned him for 12 months along with Steven Smith in the wake of the ball-tampering saga in South Africa early this year. They along with Cameron Bancroft were found guilty of changing the shape of the ball in the Cape Town Test.

Powar, however, is in Australia to train Australia’s U23 spinners for 15 days. There he bowled to Warner at Cricket Australia’s Centre of Excellence facility, who he says, doesn’t look rusty at all.

“I bowled to him for around 15 minutes with the white ball on a wicket, prepared to simulate a sub-continental track. He was middling the ball nicely and looked in good touch. If I gave some flight, he was using his feet to smash the ball straight, and if I pitched it a bit short, he would cut me off the backfoot. His experience of the Indian conditions, thanks to the IPL, was clearly showing. It seems he’s been preparing for his comeback to the game in the Canadian Premier League,” Powar told TOI.

CA, however, has asked Warner to spend some time with young spinners, which he is enjoying. Powar noted Warner looked in good spirits and is trying to change himself positively.

“He looked in good spirits. Also, it gave me an impression that he seems to be trying to change himself positively. He told their spinners about the mindset of the Indian batsmen, something which he would’ve learnt as the Sunrisers Hyderabad skipper in the IPL,” Powar added.

Australia realises the value of spin

The 40 ODI veteran feels the success of Shakib Al Hasan and Rashid Khan in BBL have them realize the importance of spin in world cricket. Meanwhile, CA’s Brisbane academy’s bowling coach, Troy Cooley invited Powar to coach the Aussie tweakers.

“I told them a few technical things like the balance of the body while delivering the ball. They’re talented but lack good coaching. However, seeing the success of Rashid Khan and Shakib-Al-Hasan in the Big Bash, Australia are realizing the value of spin in the shorter versions of the game,” he concluded.

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