India’s T20 specialist off-spinner was asked to stay back by the team management after the white-ball series to help as a net bowler but injuries to key players, including senior pro Ravichandran Ashwin, landed him in a mouth-watering duel with Smith which he won hands down.
Off-spinner Washington Sundar. Pic/AFP
Washington Sundar, prior to his unexpected Test debut on Friday against Australia, had bowled over 285 overs in first-class cricket and after dismissing Steven Smith, the Tamil Nadu off-spinner is ready to bowl 50 in an innings if that’s what the side wants of him.
India’s T20 specialist off-spinner was asked to stay back by the team management after the white-ball series to help as a net bowler but injuries to key players, including senior pro Ravichandran Ashwin, landed him in a mouth-watering duel with Smith which he won hands down.
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“I have always felt that my skills are very good with red ball. I have bowled a lot of overs in first-class cricket and first-division league in Chennai as well. I was just waiting for this opportunity and last couple of months, we were here, I did get to bowl a lot of overs and improve upon my skills,” the shy bowler said after first day’s play.
But does he have the stamina to bowl long spells that a team expects from its spinners considering that he hasn’t played first-class cricket since 2017?
His answer is ‘bring it on’. “Like any bowler, I love bowling a lot of overs. It’s just so much fun to bowl a lot of overs. Give me 20, 30, 40 or 50 overs. We had some plans going for Smith and [Marnus] Labuschagne and I am very glad they worked. The first wicket definitely felt good.”
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