Virat Kohli is arguably one of the best batsmen in the world at the present moment and is having an excellent year with the bat and as well as a skipper. Former Australian batsman Dean Jones sees a bit of Virender Sehwag in Kohli. The Delhi’s boy’s nemesis Joe Root is also playing his 50th test with equally impressive stats and figures. To sum it up, Jones feels that it has been a fascinating journey so far for both Kohli and Root.
In an exclusive interview with The Hindu Dean Jones said, “There is a bit of Veeru [Virender Sehwag] in him. Perhaps he has a slight weakness outside the off-stump in certain conditions but he is getting over that.”
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The former International feels the batsmen who are dominating the world of cricket at present in the likes of Virat Kohli, Joe Root, A.B. De Villiers, Kane Williamson and Steve Smith have some similarities with the all-time greats like Don Bradman and Brian Lara.
Jones said, “If you look at the Fab Five of the present times, Kohli, Root, AB de Villiers, Kane Willamson and Steve Smith, they all go back and across much like what Don Bradman or Brian Lara did. So in some ways, we are returning to the old school of batting.”
The Victorian-born former cricketer also heaped praise on Cheteshwar Pujara and said that the right-hander is disciplined at the crease and builds his innings. Dean Jones played 52 Tests for Australia and scored 11 centuries at an average of 46.55, which includes a mesmerising 210-run innings against India at the Chepauk in humid and sultry conditions.
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Ravichandran Ashwin is very effective in these conditions admits the Australian but also feels he has to prove his worth on true pitches rather than only on rank turners.
“In these conditions, Ashwin is very, very hard to play. His record here speaks for itself. But he has gone for plenty of runs with far lesser wickets on good, true pitches. That’s an aspect of his cricket he needs to work on. He has to plan his dismissals on good tracks, set batsmen up,” said Jones.
India is currently playing the second test against England in Vishakhapatnam after a drawn match in Rajkot.
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