Theroar.com.au: Australia needs pacers for India tour, not spin

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Glenn Mitchell writes that Australia need to focus on their pace department rather than look to recruit more spinners when they tour the Indian shores in early 2017. He cited the example of Australia's 2004 series in India where Glenn McGrath and Jason Gillespie bagged more wickets than Shane Warne.

From theroar.com.au:

"Much of the focus will be on whether Australia has the requisite spin bowling stocks to have an impact against a powerful batting line-up. Perhaps, it is not that important a discussion. I was lucky enough to commentate on Australia’s historic series win in 2004, the first since the Bill Lawry-led side in 1969-70."

"In 2004, the Australians principally won the series on the back of their fast bowling. In the first Test at Bangalore, which the tourists won by 217 runs, their only spinner, Shane Warne, sent down 60 overs in the match for figures of 2-78 and 2-115. Jason Gillespie (5-96), Glenn McGrath (6-94) and Michael Kasprowicz (4-66) were the more influential bowlers."

"Unless the pitches are going to be raging turners in India, Australia would be well advised to go in with just the one specialist spinner. Currently the spin stocks in Australia are unlikely to regularly trouble India’s batsmen. Pace is Australia’s strength. It has worked in India before. It should be the focus again."

Read the rest here.

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