News APP

NewsApp (Free)

Read news as it happens
Download NewsApp

Available on  gplay

This article was first published 9 years ago
Rediff.com  » Cricket » Australia ready to unleash Gurinder Sandhu for World Cup

Australia ready to unleash Gurinder Sandhu for World Cup

Source: PTI
December 29, 2014 11:19 IST
Get Rediff News in your Inbox:

Gurinder Sandhu

Gurinder Sandhu of the Thunder celebrates with team mate Mike Hussey. Photograph: Brendon Thorne/Getty Images

Former Australia captain Ricky Ponting has named three potential bowlers to be included in the final-15 of the World Cup squad, which includes Indian-origin medium-pacer Gurinder Singh Sandhu.

Ponting is impressed with the domestic form of Jason Behrendorff and Sandhu, while the triple World Cup winner believes that the 20-year-old Aston Agar could also be included as a specialist spinner.

"Jason Behrendorff from the Perth Scorchers has been a standout for me so far in the Big Bash and his domestic record is also good," Ponting told SEN's Summer Breakfast program.

The New South Wales-born Sandhu, whose parents hail from Punjab, has bagged 52 wickets in 29 List-A matches at an average of 24.36. Ponting opines that the 6 foot 3 inches-tall bowler is a good limited-over proposition.

Gurinder Sandhu

Gurinder Sandhu. Photograph: Robert Prezioso/Getty Images

"And Gurinder Sandhu is the other one. I think he's a terrific short form bowler. He bowls well at the death in T20 games which is probably an area that Australia haven't really ever excelled in the limited-overs game," he said.

Ponting also feels that Agar, who made his Test debut at Trent Bridge last year, scoring a remarkable 98 batting at No 11 in world-record stand with Phillip Hughes, could provide Australia a dynamic spinning option.

"I would actually throw Ashton Agar's name in there as a bit of a smokey (an Australian slang for a horse whose form has been kept secret).

"I haven't talked much about this before but I was just looking and thinking about what they might do with a spinner for the World Cup, and we know that Agar's a very handy lower batsman and a good fielder as well. I think he's someone who could slot into a World Cup one-day side really nicely."

The 40-year-old Ponting, who retired from all forms of the game in December 2012, feels that young all-rounder Glenn Maxwell is another dynamic player in line for the 50-over showpiece event.

Australia have submitted a list of 30 probables to the ICC without disclosing the names in public and are expected to come up with the final-15 on or before January 7, 2015.

Get Rediff News in your Inbox:
Source: PTI© Copyright 2024 PTI. All rights reserved. Republication or redistribution of PTI content, including by framing or similar means, is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent.

INDIAN PREMIER LEAGUE 2024

INDIAN PREMIER LEAGUE 2024