India in Australia: Hazzlewood picks this Indian batsman as most difficult to bowl
Xtra Time Web Desk: Australia’s premier fast bowler Josh Hazzlewood is looking up the challenge of bowling against Indian captain Virat Kohli. Hazzlewood on Wednesday said he do not look at the batsman who is at the crease but concentrate more on the wicket and areas he wants to pitch the ball.
“Not really seeing the batsman at the other end. It’s about seeing the wicket and where I want to pitch the ball and taking the batter out of the equation, whether that’s Virat or Pujara. That’s probably the way I go about it. Bowling at Virat brings out the best in a bowler. I think it’s about treating every batsman the same whether they have a lot of energy or not. That’s probably the way I go about things,” said Hazzlewood during a virtual press conference.
On being asked whether he have noticed any chink in the armour for Kohli having bowled against in him during the last test series in 2018-19, Hazzlewood said, I think he’s technique is pretty similar to what is was before we played him out here two years ago. Not too much has changed I think. We have the white ball series first which has been his forte really. He is going to play all six matches so it’s a huge challenge to face him in the ODI & T20I series. We will try and get on top of him but obviously it is an advantage if he is playing only one test match.”
Hazlewood also admitted Indian No.3 Cheteshwar Pujara is the batsman who worries the Aussies most — even more than Virat Kohli. The Aussie speedster feel Pujara is the Aussies’ No.1 target.
“I’d probably say him (Pujara) before Kohli anyway, to be honest,” Hazlewood said when asked whose wicket the Aussies’ most prized without Virat.
“He’s the old school Test batter — he bats time and scores runs. He frees up their middle order to play more aggressive when bowlers are tired and the field opens up.”
Pujara was the key man in the Indians’ historic 2018-19 Test series win — their first on Australian soil — crunching three centuries, including 193 not out in the decisive fourth Test and winning man of the series with 521 runs at 74.42.
