The Australian cricket team is all set to embark on a long tour to Sri Lanka starting July 2016, which will see them play 3 Tests, 5 ODIs and 2 T20Is against the host team. The Sri Lankan spinners have always been the biggest threat to touring teams and it is expected to be the same this time around as well. Although their spin attack may no longer have the same bite as it had when the likes of Muttiah Muralitharan were around, their current spin spearhead Rangana Herath has proved to be more than a handful in recent years.
In order to help their batsmen tackle the diminutive veteran spinner, Australia have reportedly come up with a plan which involves their Indian spin consultant, Sridharan Sriram. Apart from being a left-handed batsman, Sriram was also a handy left-arm spinner during his playing days.
Also Read: Rangana Herath: Sri Lanka's unsung hero who thrives in the shadows
Speaking to cricket.com.au, the former Indian cricketer revealed, “I'm going to try (to bowl like him). He does have 300 Test wickets to be fair to him. The release and the angle may be similar, so it might help them acclimatise and we can talk to them about what he looks to do, give them an idea of what to expect.”
The best part about this interesting ploy being used by the Australian team management is that Sriram is quite similar to Herath in terms of his build and so the batsmen may get more than just an idea of what will be thrown at them by the 38-year old spinner.
Sridharan Sriram, however, showered praise on the mainstay of Sri Lanka’s bowling attack and pointed out his special skills. “He's got very clever changes of pace. He's accurate, he bowls the one that comes in (to the right-hander) and the one that goes away, so he threatens your pad as well as your outside edge and that puts the batsman in doubt of where to play, he's thinking, 'Where am I going to play?' "That's his greatest strength,” he said.
Although this tactic may not guarantee success for Australia’s batsmen against the threat of Rangana Herath, it certainly looks to be a step in the right direction.
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