Bangalore, Nov 1 (IANS) Australia is undeterred by the absence of ace left-arm pacer Mitchell Johnson for the seventh and final One-Day International (ODI) against India here Saturday, as it is betting on Nathan Coulter-Nile and Moises Henriques to fill the void.
“We have two more pacers Nathan and Moises to choose in place of Mitchell though they were on the sidelines for the entire tour. We have got enough to cover. I think Nathan is known in India with the success he had in the recent Champions League,” vice captain Brad Haddin told reporters ahead of the decider at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium here.
Johnson, who took seven wickets in the current series with the best average and economy rate, is returning home to prepare for the ensuing Ashes series against England from Nov 21.
“From our point of view, it is a fitting way to conclude this series though we will miss him (Johnson). It’s two-all going into the last game, which is going to be an exciting one. We thought it was in his best interests to go home, get right for the two four-day games and be available for selection for the Ashes,” Haddin reiterated.
Admitting the final ODI would be a high-pressure game with a lot at stake, the Aussie wicket-keeper said these were the kind of games players would want to be part of.
“It’s a big game. These are the games you want to be a part of. Guys can continue to perform well at this level and games like this do hold a lot of weight leading into a big series like an Ashes campaign,” Haddin asserted.
On field restrictions, with a new rule stipulating the fifth fielder inside the circle, Haddin said his bowlers were in good form and bowling keeping in view the new rules in mind.
On tackling Indian spinners well during the current ODI series, the Aussie said the field restrictions was allowing batsmen to score freely during the middle of the game when spinners come into bowl.
“I think that’s a big reason (new fielding rules) why the spinners have gone for more runs than they normally would have,” he quipped.
On Aussies having a good record in India playing ODIs, Haddin said the conditions were not foreign to them as they used to be earlier.
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