'Swallow your pride, be defensive to be aggressive' - Adam Gilchrist warns Pat Cummins ahead of Border-Gavaskar Trophy

The much anticipated Border-Gavaskar Trophy is just a few weeks away and the Australians have started scheming plans to thwart the challenge of playing in the subcontinent. Former Australian wicketkeeper-batter Adam Gilchrist has advised Pat Cummins and co to be more circumspect instead of being over-aggressive.

Australia will travel to the subcontinent to face India in a decisive Test series with vital WTC points up for grabs. Although they are almost on the verge of qualifying for the final of the WTC, they will be wary of the challenge of playing in Indian conditions. The Australian selection committee have picked four specialist spinner for the upcoming tour in a bid to bolster their bowling options.

“What we tried to change with our mentality back then – and I’d be interested to see if the Australians do it this time – is don’t go searching and just rolling spinners out there. Attack the stumps right from ball one. Swallow your pride a bit, be defensive to be aggressive… Start with one slip, start with a catching mid-wicket, put fielders out on the boundary to nullify the boundary option, but keep a couple of catchers in place – either at short cover or short mid-wicket – and just be patient,” Gilchrist was quoted as saying by Fox Sports.

Pick your best four bowlers, run with them: Gilchrist

The Australian icon warned Pat Cummins to not rely too much on new faces and go with his trusted bowlers instead. Gilchrist reckoned that teams often try to introduce new players as mystery bowlers, which often backfires for the team as it is very difficult to adapt to the Indian conditions.

“So often teams go to India hoping to unveil some new spinner that’s going to come in and adapt and bedazzle in India — it doesn’t really happen. Pick your best four bowlers, run with them — and if that is three seamers who can all get really nice reserve swing and Nathan Lyon, who’s outstanding and clearly the best off-spinner we’ve ever had, can play his role — that’s my gut feeling. You do that, you go with it," he added.

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