Matthew Kuhnemann. (Photo Source: BCCI)
India had a horrible start to the third Test against Australia at Holkar Cricket Stadium in Indore as they got bundled out for just 109 after opting to bat first. The wrecker-in-chief was Australia’s left-arm spinner Matthew Kuhnemann, who picked up a maiden five-wicket haul (5/16 in nine overs) in just his second Test.
After his marvellous spell, Kuhnemann said that it was a great feeling to pick a fifer in India. He also revealed that he learnt how to use the crease watching Ravindra Jadeja and Ravichandran Ashwin.
“It feels really good to pick five wickets in a Test against India. I watched them (Ashwin and Jadeja) closely. In particular, how they use the crease. It is a dry pitch. Some deliveries are keeping low,” Kuhnemann said after the end of play on Day 1.
Leading up to the tour, Ashton Agar was believed to be Australia’s second spinner alongside Nathan Lyon. However, the team management showed faith in Kuhnemann’s quick left-arm spin, thinking it would be better suited for Indian wickets. And the 26-year-old repaid the faith by bringing the Indian batting line-up down on its knees.
Kuhnemann’s fifer included big names such as Rohit Sharma, Shubman Gill, Ravindra Jadeja, Shreyas Iyer and Ashwin.
Meanwhile, India’s batting coach Vikram Rathour was disappointed after a dismal show with the bat on Day 1. He said that the team needed more runs and it was a complete failure of the batting unit. “It is a challenging wicket. We needed more runs. We failed as a batting unit. The wicket has slowed down, Rathour said.
With the WTC points at stake, there is pressure to win home games: Vikram Rathour
He further defended the pitch prepared for the third Test reasoning that there is pressure to win home games keeping the World Test Championship final in mind.
“With the WTC points at stake, there is pressure to win home games. So, there is nothing wrong in preparing such wickets and making best use of home conditions to win. But these pitches are also a double-edged sword,” he said.
He further gave his opinion on India wasting reviews saying, “You cannot always get them right.”
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