CHENNAI: While the pitches in India should assist the slower bowlers, Australia have opted to include only one specialist spinner in their 15-member squad in leggie Adam Zampa. Leftarm spinner Ashton Agar was named in the provisional squad but was later removed from the roster after suffering a calf injury.
Instead of making a like-for-like replacement, the five-time world champions boldly decided to bolster their already envious batting unit with Marnus Labuschagne. In a tournament where Australia may have to operate on thin spin-bowling resources, captain Pat Cummins is banking on Glenn Maxwell, an offie, to complement Zampa.
"It is unfortunate that Ash (Agar) had the injury and could not be here. Maxwell is going to be in our side and he is good enough to bowl 10 overs every match. I think that we have got at least 20 overs of spin there. Hopefully, Travis Head (currently sidelined with a hand injury) comes in later in the tournament and can be our third spinner," said Cummins at a promotional event here on Thursday.
Cummins stressed that Maxwell will be a vital cog in Australia's wheel, saying that the team is pinning its hopes on the experienced allrounder to deliver.
"Maxi (Maxwell) is a key player for us. He has got an amazing knack... when he misses out with the bat, he contributes with the ball and vice versa," Cummins said.
He also said his batters will have extended sessions against spin. "The next couple of days, you will see the guys play a lot of spin. Our batting order has played a lot over here in India and has done well. Jadeja, Kuldeep and R Ashwin are not bowlers who we have not faced before," he said.
