Australia coach Justin Langer on Wednesday said he has great respect for the formidable Indian bowling line-up but his team’s batsmen have become familiar enough with their tactics to be ready for the challenge they will throw up in the upcoming series.
Langer said the contest would likely be an exciting one thanks to the two teams being evenly-matched.
“Well, we know Jasprit Bumrah, world-class bowler, (Mohammed) Shami, really good opening combination. We have great respect for that and guys have seen a fair bit of them, through the IPL and the last couple of summers,” Langer said in a virtual media conference on Wednesday.
“We have played 14 ODIs against India in the last few years and it’s seven all,” he added.
India are touring Australia with a lethal bowling attack, led by pace-spearhead Jasprit Bumrah, and comprising Mohammed Shami, Navdeep Saini and Shardul Thakur.
The spin department features Yuzvendra Chahal along with Kuldeep Yadav and Ravindra Jadeja.
Langer said the Australians would be ready for the challenge.
“…Our guys have seen a lot of each other and that’s what I love about the contest, you see which teams are growing, which players are growing. We have played a bit against each other now.
“So, we have great respect, great respect for their spinners, great respect for Bumrah, Shami, their other bowlers (Navdeep) Saini.
“Our guys know they are going to be on their toes all the time in all forms of the game against the Indian bowling attack. But they are working hard, they have seen a bit now and they will be ready for it,” the 50-year-old asserted.
Langer sidestepped queries on India missing star opener Rohit Sharma and pacer Ishant Sharma due to injury, saying that it was not his concern.
Rohit and Ishant, who suffered injuries during the IPL, are in danger of missing the Test series.
“It is not our business, we have our own challenges, we will come together for the first time as a group on the morning of the game, so it’s up to India who they choose,” he said.
“One thing, we have zero control or say is in who India picks, they can pick whoever they want, we have our own challenges, so India whoever they put out on the park, we will be ready to take them on,” he added.
