S. Sriram is back in the city after attending a two-week Spin Camp at Cricket Australia’s Centre of Excellence in Brisbane.
Named the Australian Test team consultant for the nation’s three-Test series in Sri Lanka during July-August this year, Sriram has been playing a valuable role in getting the Aussies to develop their skills while bowling spin or facing the spinners in subcontinental conditions.
Sriram told The Hindu here on Thursday, “The surfaces prepared for the camp in Brisbane assisted spin, much like the pitches in the subcontinent.”
The former India cricketer said, “As many as 15 spinners from around Australia including international bowlers Steven O’ Keefe and Ashton Agar were there. And there were seven coaches including the well-known former Australia off-spinner Ashley Mallett.”
Theme of the campThe theme of the camp, Sriram said, was for the Australian spinners to adapt to different conditions and batsmen.
He said, “In India there is a lot of emphasis on accuracy since if you bowl with control, the natural assistance from the pitches will help you get wickets.”
Sriram added, “The Australian bowlers attempt to spin the ball more, there is a lot of over-spin. So, sometimes, the accuracy is not there. Improving control was one area we focussed on.”
He said, “In Australia, it is the combination of beating the batsmen in the air and bounce that enables a bowler get wickets. In India, the ball does a lot more off the pitch.”
As Australia takes on Sri Lanka in the emerald isles next month, an Indian will be in the mix of things.
