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This is an archive article published on September 25, 2010

Johnson readies short ball attack for Sehwag

The Australian pacer believes that denting the Indian top order is the way to go.

Aware that letting Virender Sehwag play his free-flowing game could be perilous for them in the upcoming Test series,Australian pacer Mitchell Johnson has vowed to stop the explosive Indian opener by peppering him with short-balls.

The first Test of the two-match series will begin on October 1 in Mohali.

The left-arm quick feels Sehwag is vulnerable to short-pitched bowling. When the Australians last played a Test series in India,Sehwag scored 351 runs at a strike rate of 82.39.

8220;Sehwag is someone we can bowl a lot of short balls to. I don8217;t think he8217;s too confident with the short ball early. Last time when we were over here we came out and he was hitting good balls for four or six. You look up at the scoreboard and he8217;s almost 50,8221; Johnson said.

The Aussie paceman feel their job would a lot more easy if they could dent the Indian top order. 8220;I think if we can get their top order out fairly cheaply,it puts a lot of pressure on their lower order like MS Dhoni,Rahul Dravid and those guys,8221; he was quoted as saying by the 8216;Australian8217;.

All-rounder Shane Watson endorsed Johnson8217;s strategy. 8220;There are a few things we know we can make the most of with hopefully some of the Indian batsmen. I think with a few guys it doesn8217;t necessarily have to be raw pace,but getting a few short balls up a few of their top order batters is going to be really important,to set the tone of our bowling side.

8220;I think just about every team in the world is vulnerable to raw pace,no matter who you are,no one really enjoys the ball coming at your head at 150km/h.,8221; he said.

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The Australians will open their tour on Saturday by playing against Board8217;s President XI in Chandigarh.

 

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