Former Australia cricketer Ian Healy wants Australian pace trio of Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood and Mitchell Starc to attack Virat Kohli’s body in the first Test of the five-match Border-Gavaskar Trophy, starting from November 22 at Perth.
“Body bash. Bowl at the back armpit, that’s the right arm as a right-handed batsman … and it’s got to be hot,” Healy told SENQ Breakfast.
“Have him jumping at times if he wants to ride those deliveries – ducking, weaving or bending backwards.
“Get that short leg position right next to him on the leg side and if you need a bumper, it’s got to go at the badge. He might try to bust out of a hard spell with a hook shot or pull shot and that will be hard to control if it’s badge height.”
Kohli has been dominant in Australia in the previous tours as he is averaging 54.08 and has amassed six centuries in 13 Tests he has played in down under.
India’s Virat Kohli bats in the nets at the Wankhede Stadium during the series against New Zealand. (Express Photo by Amit Chakravarty)
Ian Healy says the first match-up he is looking at how the Australian quicks will bowl to Virat Kohli at Perth.
“The first matchup I’m looking at is how our quicks can bowl to Virat Kohli, and I think they should target his front pad quite often,” he said.
“He sits that front foot there and he can play from anywhere – he can play square on the off-side, he can whip onto the leg-side or he can rock back … but they’ve got to look for any sort of insecurity in his form and maybe target that front pad.
“But don’t do it every ball because he’ll get used to it … it’s the impact ball that has to be on the front pad after he is set up with seam.”
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