Australia need to instill confidence in their lower order batsmen: Vettori
Ahmedabad. Australia’s assistant coach Daniel Vettori has urged the team’s lower-order batsmen to be more daring and get some useful runs ahead of the fourth and final Test of the Border Gavaskar Trophy, starting here on March 9. India’s lower-order batsmen played a key role in the team’s victory in the first two Tests. On the other hand, Australia’s batsmen from number eight to 11 have been able to score only five runs per innings in the series so far. Captain Pat Cummins scored 33 runs in the second Test match in Delhi. In this match, Nathan Lyon played an inning of 10 runs.
Only two of Australia’s lower-order batsmen have reached double digits. Cummins has returned to Australia due to his mother’s illness, which has further weakened his team’s lower order. Vettori said the team management and support staff should instill more confidence in the lower-order batsmen ahead of the fourth Test. He said, “I believe Pat Cummins batted brilliantly in the first innings in Delhi and I think the lower-order four batsmen have understood how to do it and how they can do it.” It just takes a little bit of courage.” Vettori said, “Looking at the way the ball is turning more in these conditions and the quality of bowlers we are facing, I think we all understand.” That protection is not the way to get out of it and score runs.
The performance of the lower-order batsmen has been a concern for Australia in the current series as Nathan Lyon, Matt Kuhnman, Todd Murphy, Mitchell Starc and Scott Boland have not contributed with the bat. On the other hand, Akshar Patel, Ravindra Jadeja and Ravichandran Ashwin made significant contributions with the bat in the first two Tests. Even Umesh Yadav batted creditably in the third Test, hitting one four and two sixes in his 17-run innings. Even look at Umesh Yadav’s innings, Vettori said. I know the lower-order batsmen have the license to show such aggression. This kind of batting can make a difference. We have to instill confidence in our bottom four batsmen.
