Reverse swing to be Australia’s most potent bowling weapon on India tour: Watson

MOHALI - Australian all-rounder Shane Watson insists that his team is better equipped in the reverse swing department, which he sees as their most potent bowling weapon during the two-Test series against India.

Midway through the 2008 Test series in India, the Australian bowling attack had said that they had no idea about extracting reverse swing on the subcontinent.

“If the conditions suit … we definitely know how to do it much more and I’ve learned a lot from two years ago how we went about it, because it didn’t work,” The Sydney Morning Herald quoted Watson, as saying.

“In Australia this year we were able to work on a few techniques to make it go reverse and we were able to make the most of it last summer. It is a really important part of success over here to make the most of the ball because the wickets are often very flat, so if the ball’s not moving it makes it very difficult to get wickets.”

“That’s what we learned from the Indians last time, so it’s a big thing,” he added.

Meanwhile, Australian fast bowler Ben Hilfenhaus said that his team did enjoy some success in employing it during their first match of the current tour, against the Board President’s XI.

“We did (get reverse swing) in the first innings, we didn’t quite have the same luck for whatever reason in the second innings, but it’s part of the game, something we’ve got to work on and I’m sure we’ll find a way,” Hilfenhaus said. (ANI)