Dubai: Australia will be plotting hosts India’s downfall with the help of former Indian all-rounder Sridharan Sriram in the World Cup Twenty20 next year.
“I have not yet discussed with Darren [Lehmann] on the exact details of my role, which would become more concrete over the next few days,” said Sriram, who along with Mike Hussey, has been appointed to help Australia prepare for the March 8-April 3 tournament.
“However, my role will focus primarily on preparing the team for the challenges they face on the subcontinent conditions and venues and against subcontinent rivals,” Sriram told Gulf News during a telephone conversation on Wednesday.
Interestingly, Group 2 also consists of two of the top subcontinent teams in Pakistan and India. Australia will face Pakistan on March 25 and the hosts on March 27 at Mohali.
The 39-year-old left-arm spinner and top-order batsman has shot into the limelight after an impressive role as a consultant during Australia’s A tour of India earlier this year. Sriram’s inputs helped Australia A thwart India A’s challenge and subsequently he was roped in for Australia’s tour of Bangladesh in October.
The series was postponed due to security issues and now Sriram, who played eight ODIs for India between 2000 and 2004, will make his much-awaited start with the Australians during the training camp in South Africa for 10 days before the team arrive in India.
For Sriram it is not new to be handling top stars, as he was one of the assistant coaches for the Delhi Daredevils and will bring to the fore the knowledge he gained under former South African opener and reputed coach Gary Kirsten. Despite Kirsten not continuing his services with Daredevils, Sriram will be part of the team for the eighth edition of the Indian Premier League, which is scheduled to begin at the end of the World Cup.
“Sriram’s focus will be on getting the players as prepared as possible for what they will face in India,” Cricket Australia’s Pat Howard said in a news release.
“Mike has been one of our most successful players at transitioning between the different formats and his advice and support in this area will be of great benefit to the players who have played a large amount of Test and ODI cricket in the last 12 months.”
Australia have played just one Twenty20 international in 2015, with the triumphant 50-over World Cup campaign and Test cricket taking priority.
The World Twenty20 is the one major international prize that has eluded Australia, whose players in the past have struggled to combat spin bowling on the slow decks of the subcontinent.
“As a proud Australian cricketer I am delighted to be involved in Australia’s campaign for the World T20 title,” said Hussey.
“I’m really looking forward to working with the boys and assisting in any way possible with their preparation and match day plans.”
Australia play New Zealand in Dharamsala on March 18 in their opening match of the tournament.
