Australia assistant coach Daniel Vettori impressed with young Aussie spinners stepping up to Indian challenge

In the third Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy held in Indore, Australia spinners outplayed India batters with their magnificent bowling performances. Nathan Lyon, who picked 11 wickets in the game, hit headlines for his match-winning display. However, some new names such as Matthew Kuhnemann and Todd Murphy also grabbed a lot of eyes due to their courageous bowling shows.

In the third Test, Murphy and Kuhnemann got the wicket of the batting maestro Virat Kohli in the first innings and second innings respectively. So far, both have dismissed the veteran a combined five times. Using the conditions in an incredible way, the youngsters have reinforced the Aussie spin attack efficiently. Both rookie spinners have combined experience of 20 appearances before the series in their first-class careers. 

Talking about the performances of spinners in the series thus far, Australia's assistant coach Daniel Vettori lauded their bowling efforts and said, "That's the main challenge on these surfaces, the expectation is so high that you are going to do well [and] you are going to take a wicket every ball."

He also added, "To be able to be consistent against some of the best players of spin you'll come across in these conditions and with these expectations has probably been the most impressive thing so far.”

"I think the guys who do it consistently, there are quite a number of them on show in this series from both teams… they don't wilt to the pressure. They just understand their process and they repeat, repeat and repeat. I think that's the real skill over here. To repeat as much as you can because you can get carried away by what's going on, the expectation, but all six spinners so far in the series have been able to manage those expectations."

Murphy can attack as well as defend: Vettori

Praising Kuhnemann and Murphy’s ability to adapt to Indian wickets, Vettori said, "Playing the conditions, playing the way that they have been for their state. I probably look to that second innings… at a time where Matty was leaking a little bit. So for him [Murphy] to do that, that's a huge role. Although he didn't get the wickets, we acknowledge that spell of bowling, the dryness that he had from his end."

Acknowledging Murphy’s amazing economical spell, Vettori also added, "Obviously Nathan and Matt got all the wickets but… his spell allowed everyone around him to take those wickets. And I think that probably embodies it, that series of balls that he's bowled to Kohli.

The assistant coach of the Aussies further said "Todd has that skill that he can be a defensive bowler and he can be an attacking bowler and work around pretty much whatever is required from him in the game. For such a young and inexperienced spinner… to be able to come here and handle these tough situations and perform the role that's required has been impressive."

Talking about the difference between Indian wickets from his playing era and today’s, he said, "They were always just a war of attrition the wickets that I played on - India won the toss and got 600, you get 400 then hang on for dear life in the last couple of days. Now the game's in fast forward in a lot of ways."

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