We've got spinners who can take 20 wickets says Darren Lehmann

Darren Lehmann, coach of the Australian cricket team thinks his current bowling roster can pick up 20 wickets against India. The team from down under is in Dubai ahead of the series to get used to the conditions in the subcontinent. The onus this time is on their spinners to deliver and the likes of Nathan Lyon, Steve O’Keefe have special mentors, trainers in form of Monty Panesar, Daniel Vettori and Muttiah Muralitharan who are sharing their experience with the Australian team.

Lehmann thinks his team has the spinners who can dismiss the Indian team twice in a Test match. “We’ve got spinners who can take 20 wickets and quicks who can reverse the ball. For us we’re going to have to come up with an ideal plan that works for us, depending on (the) wickets and what’s going on.” He said.

Last time Australia visited India they were hammered 5-0 by the Indians. The Michael Clarke led Australian team was second in all the departments of the game. Aussies were also surrounded by the infamous “homework-gate” incident when four of their players were dropped from the team for not completing the assigned work. According to coach Lehmann, it is going to be different this time around. He said: “So we’re not fearing getting the 20 wickets, we’ve just got to put enough scoreboard pressure on them.”

He also added that the team from down under is able to deliver their best when the back is against the wall. “The great thing with the Australian cricket team for years has been, backs to the wall brings the best out of players.” Lehmann said.

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Damien Martyn and Mathew Hayden performed big the last time Australia won a series in India. The 47-year-old hopes to find another Martyn in this squad. He said, “We hope we’ll have a Martyn or a Hayden-type series from someone. And if we do that we’ll make enough runs, obviously.”

While talking about the challenges Australia are going to face Lehmann pointed at Virat Kohli as the major one. The Indian skipper has scored six of his fifteen centuries against the Aussies and seems to enjoy batting against them.

The in-form Indian skipper scored 655 runs against England at an average of 109.16 which earned him the man of the series award. When asked about the plans he had for Kohli, Lehmann was quick to answer, he said: “Bowl well and have a bit of luck along the way. For us we’re going to have to come up with an ideal plan that works for us, depending on (the) wickets and what’s going on.”

Virat averages just above 60 against Australia and the visitors are pretty much aware of the threat he possesses. They have been assessing him for months now but that has come to no good. Lehmann emphasized on the same and said: “At the end of the day you’re going to have to bowl enough good balls and that’s going to be the challenge for our spinners and for our quicks, challenging his defence and making sure he’s playing in the areas we want him to play.”

The Border-Gavaskar Trophy kick starts from 23rd February in Pune.