India vs Australia: “Ishant’s absence will help Australia edge out India in this series,” Jason Gillespie

India vs Australia: “Ishant’s absence will help Australia edge out India in this series,” Jason Gillespie

Jason Gillespie and Ishant Sharma

ishant sharma australia
Jason Gillespie and Ishant Sharma

Ace Indian speedster Ishant Sharma’s name went missing from the recently announced Test squad for India’s tour of Australia. Former cricketer Jason Gillespie feels his absence could be the difference when these two sides meet later this year.

“I am predicting Australia to edge out India in this series,” said the former Australia fast bowler during an interview. “I think the home advantage is going to be a factor. Besides, it will be a blow with both Ishant Sharma and Bhuvneshwar Kumar injured. Bumrah and Shami have been bowling well for India. But, India will miss Ishant for his experience in Australian conditions,” said Gillespie.

With 97 Tests, Sharma is one of the most experienced Test players amongst the active Indian contingent. His name was excluded from the squad after the veteran pacer got injured during the ongoing IPL edition while playing for Delhi Capitals. He is currently recovering from an abdominal muscle tear while being monitored by the Indian board’s medical team. But even after the recovery, quarantine protocols might rule him out of the four-Test series beginning on December 17.

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“He has been bowling beautifully in the last few years. You only have to look at his results to show why he has performed so well,” said Gillespie. “He also brings a subtle difference to the bowling attack. It’s not often that a right-arm seam bowler comes wide of the crease and bowls inswingers to right-hand batsmen and across left-handers. It’s not a common angle for batsmen to face. You normally have right-arm bowlers looking to get close to the stumps and look to swing it away from the right-handers and bowl it into left-handers,” Gillespie added.

Australia has the best seam attack: Gillespie 

Mitchell Starc, Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood
Mitchell Starc, Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood (L-R)

The 45-year also lauded the bowling combination of the Aussies for the upcoming tour. He also went on to say that they have the best seam attack Australia has ever produced in the history of Test cricket.

“When I look at the Australian bowling line up: Mitchell Starc, Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood – it is the best seam attack Australia has ever produced in the history of Test cricket. They make a wonderful combination. Obviously, with Nathan Lyon, our best off-spinner, it is a pretty formidable line-up and it’s going to be a real challenge for India in Australian conditions,” Gillespie said.

“For the Indian seam attack, the real challenge is how quickly they can adapt to Australian conditions and get their length on the delivery right. Sometimes, when teams come from the sub-continent, it takes a little while to find the correct length. The Australians do it year in, year out,” he concluded.

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