It’s both an honour and a challenge, says Sridharan Sriram

                                     

As the Australians pursue the World Twenty20 crown, the only ICC title that has eluded them so far, they will receive a helping hand from an Indian.

Chennai’s Sridharan Sriram will guide the Australian team during its three Twenty20 internationals in South Africa ahead of the competition as Consultant and then work in tandem with Michael Hussey during World Twenty20.

Speaking to The Hindu on Wednesday, Sriram said, “It’s both an honour and a challenge. The Aussies are great to work with for their work ethics, willingness to accept fresh ideas and try out new things.”

In a first for an Indian, Sriram was appointed Consultant of the Australian team for the two-Test series in Bangladesh in October this year. The series was subsequently postponed indefinitely for security reasons.

“That was disappointing. Ahead of the series, Australian coach Darren Lehmann was so welcoming towards me. That was a big opportunity but that is behind me now. I am excited about the coming days,” Sriram said.

The 39-year-old former India cricketer is also the assistant coach of Delhi Daredevils in the IPL. Sriram comprehends well the dynamics of Twenty20 cricket.

On what he could impart to the versatile Aussies in the shortest form of the game he said, “If you talk about batting, we can look at widening hitting zones. If a batsman is strong in one area, he can develop more shots in other areas. It then becomes harder for bowlers. If a batsman is adept at strokes over mid-wicket, he can perhaps look at the inside-out shot over cover as well.”

Sriram added, “It is also important to get off the blocks quickly, particularly on the sub-continental tracks in Twenty20 cricket. Otherwise, pressure can get to you.”

Talking about venues for Australia games in the league phase, Sriram said, “Bangalore, Dharamshala and Mohali are not the worst from an Australian perspective. There could be some assistance for pacemen. But then, by the time the Aussies play New Zealand in Dharmashala, around 10 matches would have already been hosted by the venue. So the pitch could be slower. Also the surface in Mohali has behaved differently in recent times.”

Spinners need to adapt

Sriram said the spinners would need to adapt. “They need to bowl different lengths, vary their pace and trajectory. It is also very important for them to know what the ‘release shot’ of a particular batsman would be.”

He hoped paceman Mitchell Starc would recover in time from stress fracture of foot. “He’s a big factor with his aggression, speed and yorkers.”

Queried about Australia’s strengths, Sriram said, “The side has some powerful hitters in Warner, Finch, Maxwell and Faulkner. Steven Smith is a wonderful No. 3 around whom others can bat. The side has several mutli-dimensional cricketers. And there is a lot of depth in the pace attack.”

This indeed will be an Australian campaign with an Indian connection.