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Flashy India opener Virender Sehwag predicts pace will be Australia’s route to success if they are to win the first Test at the MCG on Thursday.
The ten Indian wickets were shared by Australia’s three quicks in the first innings, with offspinner Nathan Lyon managing 0-66 from 17 overs.
Sehwag said there was little sign of wear or spin in the pitch and Lyon was unlikely to be much more of a threat in the second innings.
He said the bigger danger to India would come from sideways deviation and uneven bounce when the pacemen were bowling.
“I don’t think there’s much spin in the wicket,” Sehwag said.
“When the ball is new, seam movement is important. I don’t think Australia rely on spin, they rely on seam bowling.
“We are good against spin bowling so we surely would look to attack spin bowlers.”
Sehwag described the pitch as “spongy” but predicted India could chase down anything under 300 in the final innings.
Australia led by 230 with two wickets in hand at stumps on Wednesday.
With no team in the past 49 years having successfully chased down a final-innings target of greater than 237 at the MCG, it will be a tough challenge regardless of how many runs Australia’s tail adds on Thursday morning.
But while wickets tumbled on Wednesday, with 15 falling in total, both teams credited the bowlers rather than any great terrors in the pitch.
Australia’s Ricky Ponting said his side’s bowlers were exceptional, while Sehwag was even more complimentary of India’s attack.
“This is India’s best bowling attack I have ever played with,” he said.
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