Paine tells bowlers to bounce out Sri Lanka after humbling loss

Thursday, 24 January 2019 01:46 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

BRISBANE, AFP: Australian captain Tim Paine said Wednesday that Sri Lanka should prepare themselves for a bouncer barrage when the first day-night Test gets under way in Brisbane this week.

Australia’s captain Tim Paine bats in the nets during a practice session at the Gabba in Brisbane on 23 January, ahead of their first day-night Test match against Sri Lanka on 24 January - Pic by Ishara S. Kodikara/AFP

Paine said that Australia’s much-vaunted pace attack hadn’t used the bouncer effectively in their recent series loss to India. The Australians went into the Test series against India boasting one of the most formidable pace attacks in world cricket - but Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood and Pat Cummins were comprehensively out-bowled by their Indian counterparts.

To make matters worse, the three pacemen failed to get a single LBW decision as India claimed a historic series win.

Paine said while praise should go to the Indian batsmen, his bowlers will be better prepared when the day-night Test against Sri Lanka begins Thursday.

“India batted really well,” he conceded.

“Subcontinent players, when the wickets are good, like the ball being bowled at their stumps and they don’t miss too many when they’re in the form some of those guys were in.” The Australian skipper said the bowling attack, which has lost Hazlewood to injury, would have to improve on the lively Gabba wicket.

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