Srinagar: Former Australia cricketer Ian Healy has asked Australia pacers to target prized wicket of Virat Kohli in the upcoming Border-Gavaskar Test series.
Speaking to SEN Radio, Healy emphasised targeting Kohli’s front pad with incisive deliveries as a primary strategy.
“The first matchup I’m looking at is how our quicks can bowl to Virat Kohli, and I think they should target his front pad quite often,” Healy suggested.
“He sits that front foot there and he can play from anywhere — he can play square on the off-side, he can whip onto the leg-side or he can rock back — but they’ve got to look for any sort of insecurity in his form and maybe target that front pad.”
“Don’t do it every ball because he’ll get used to it — it’s the impact ball that has to be on the front pad after he is set up with seam,” he explained.
“If that’s (front-foot tactic) not working, body bash. Bowl at the back armpit, that’s the right arm as a right-handed batsman — and it’s got to be hot,” Healy stated.
“Have him jumping at times if he wants to ride those deliveries — ducking, weaving or bending backwards. Get that short leg position right next to him on the leg side, and if you need a bumper, it’s got to go at the badge,” he added.
“He might try to bust out of a hard spell with a hook shot or pull shot, and that will be hard to control if it’s badge height,” he concluded.
Kohli has only 250 runs in six Tests this year at an average of 22.72 – Kohli’s record in Australia cannot be ignored. The Indian superstar has amassed 1352 runs at an average of 54.08.