Former India all-rounder, Irfan Pathan has opined that Axar Patel could prove to be a big threat to former Australia skipper, Steve Smith in the upcoming Border-Gavaskar series. During a recent chat with Star Sports, Pathan called Smith an Australian legend, insisting that India needs to have a proper plan against him.
As per the quotes in India Today, Irfan Pathan said, “No doubt about that. He is definitely an Australian legend. If you look at Australian history as well, he is up there. He has troubled the Indian bowlers a lot, scored tons of runs. Even though you know that he has got a really solid bottom hand, but still he finds ways to score runs in front of the wickets, on the off and leg side. We need to have a proper plan.”
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He said that India spin-bowling all-rounder Axar Patel could prove to be a threat to Smith in the upcoming four-match Test series between India and Australia.
Explaining the same, Irfan Pathan said, “The challenge of Steve Smith will be there for Indian cricket but I think one guy, which I have a great feeling, who can actually have the numbers against him is Axar Patel. If he plays regularly all the matches, the kind of trajectory he has, he can be a big threat to him.”
The former cricketer said that if Axar Patel manages to continuously bowl at the stumps he can trouble Smith because he uses his bottom hand a lot.
Elaborating the same, Irfan Pathan said, “The line and length he bowls, the straight ball he bowls, he can bring the lbw or bowled into play against Steve Smith, especially because he uses his bottom hand a lot. A bowler who continuously bowls at the stumps can prove to be an alarm bell against such a player, that is Axar Patel.”
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India will be taking on Australia in a four-match Test series, scheduled to be commencing on February 9. They are primed to play Australia in the final of the World Test Championship.
