Australian Cricketer Aims to Emulate Cheteshwar Pujara in Upcoming Border-Gavaskar Trophy vs India

Indian cricket team will aim for glory in upcoming Border-Gavaskar Trophy in Australia. India and Australia are two of greatest cricketing nations, and India’s recent whitewash against a 3-game Test series against New Zealand ds a lot more anticipation for 5-match Test series, which will start on November 22, 2024, in Perth.

Australia’s Marnus Labuschagne intends to pull Cheteshwar Pujara against India in Border-Gavaskar Trophy 

Australian batter Marnus Labuschagne wants to play "long game" to wear down India's pace attack, similar to how veteran Cheteshwar Pujara did in past two Border-Gavaskar Trophy series. In 2018-19 series, Pujara faced 1,258 balls across seven innings, scoring three centuries as he wore down an unchanged Australian bowling attack throughout four-Test series, helping India secure a famous victory Down Under.

Indian batter, known for his solid defence, used a similar approach in 2020-21 series, facing 928 balls — most by any batter in series — as he once again contributed to anor memorable win for tourists.

Labuschagne plans to use a similar strategy. right-hander feels that keeping India's relatively inexperienced pace attack, aside from Jasprit Bumrah , on field for as long as possible could be key for hosts in five-Test series beginning here on Friday.

"It's going to be important for all of us. I think way we play, we're at our best when we're playing long game," Labuschagne was quoted as saying by 'ESPNCricinfo'.

"We understand that getting m back for ir second and third spells, putting m under pressure and letting m come to us and us putting pressure back on m through overs in field and time in game, especially over a five-Test series, that's really important.

"Because as you get into third, fourth, fifth Test, if y're trying to play same team, and those bowlers are rolling into 100, 150, 200 overs by third Test, it's going to make a big difference in series," he ded.

Bumrah will be supported by likes of Mohammed Siraj and trio of Harshit Rana, Prasidh Krishna and Nitish Kumar Reddy, all playing ir debut series in Australia.

Labuschagne, who bowls medium pace as well as legspin, bowled a barrage of bouncers to skipper Pat Cummins and pacer Mitchell Starc at nets on Monday.

"I bowled one bouncer and I think Mitchell Starc said, 'We've got short memories'. And I said, 'Well, I'm going to get m anyway, so I might as well dish m out'.

"re's nothing more enjoyable than bowling bouncers. I love it. "re was a bit worry. When I bowled I think about 28 overs of pace in a Shield game, and my worklos were zero before n, so some would say that's a big spike. But my body's pretty durable.

"It's something that I've done from a young age. I've always bowled pace." 30-year-old will like nothing more than bowl bouncers.

"I would love nothing more than to be that guy," 

Labuschagne said during build-up to Friday's series opener in Perth when asked if he was primed to fill pace all-rounder Caemron Green's bowling boots.

"But we've got to convince Australian captain of that. We'll see, but re's nothing more enjoyable than bowling bouncers. I love it," Labuschagne ded. 

(PTI)