‘Disciplined’ Washington Sundar stuffed Ashwin’s footwear fairly properly, says Australia’s assistant coach McDonald

Image Source : GETTY IMAGES Washington Sundar
Australia’s assistant coach Andrew McDonald on Saturday praised the extremely inexperienced Indian bowling assault for the ultimate Test and singled out Washington Sundar, saying the younger off-spinner stuffed the footwear of Ravichandran Ashwin “quite well”.

Hit by a barrage of accidents via the sequence, India picked debutants Washington (3/89) and medium-pacer T Natarajan (3/78) within the taking part in eleven on Friday. The duo was travelling with the squad as internet bowlers.

“I assumed they (the Indian bowlers) had been very constant. I assumed Washington Sundar specifically was disciplined and fill that position of Ravi Ashwin fairly properly and saved it tight and was in a position to take some key wickets on the way in which,” McDonald mentioned on the digital post-day press convention 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.”
McDonald, who additionally coaches within the IPL, was additionally impressed by Natarajan.

“…Natarajan formed the ball early, there may be lot (to love) about him, left-arm swing bowler, little doubt he’s inexperienced however has sufficient performed first-class video games to be play his first Test on this tour, (that) is a superb achievement, so I believe they held their very own” the 39-year-old mentioned.

The left-arm pacer had impressed within the restricted overs leg of the tour after making the Indian staff in the back of a stellar IPL.

Australia had been bowled out for 369 within the first session of the rain-curtailed second day. Like Washington and Natarajan, Shardul Thakur additionally took three wickets..

“They (Indian bowlers) applied pressure throughout the innings and they made (it) difficult for ourselves. Times when we felt we would get on the top, they were able to bounce back and get key wickets at crucial times. It was great arm-wrestle, so full credit to their attack,” the Australian assistant coach mentioned.

He additionally mentioned that Indian bowlers and his batting group “have a big job” forward of them within the second innings.

India in reply had been poised at 62/2 within the first innings with Ajinkya Rahane and Cheteshwar Pujara remaining unbeaten on 2 and eight respectively, on the finish of the day’s play with the guests nonetheless trailing by 307 runs.

According to McDonald, the dismissal of Rohit Sharma was fairly helpful whilst he termed the proceedings as far as “even”.

“India 2/60, to get (Rohit) Sharma just before the or what was to be the end of the play was very handy. But we had 100 runs today, could that have been more possibly, but in saying that 350 plus at the first innings at the GABBA is not a bad score.”

Australia haven’t misplaced a Test on the Gabba since 1988. The assistant coach mentioned that his staff was all the time trying to put up a complete past 350 within the first essay.

“…however there may be lot of cricket to be performed on this and can outline the gorgeous a lot the sequence, one all coming in and all on the road. The total efficiency of the sequence will likely be outlined by the sequence, little doubt about that,” he added.

The day’s play was suspended early as a result of rain and he mentioned that it was disappointing for the spectators.

“The umpires have made that decision (about play being known as off) however little doubt disappointing for the spectators, who stayed on. It would have been good to get some play there, however clearly deemed by the umpires to be unsafe.

“I suppose the playing surface is unsafe in some areas,” he added.