Thaindian News

Sydney, Jan 20 (IANS) Former Australian cricketer Dean Jones feels India should drop veteran batsman V.V.S Laxman and pacer Vinay Kumar to make place for spinners Ravichandran Ashwin and Pragyan Ojha for the fourth and final Test in Adelaide starting Tuesday.

Jones said Indians have to take risks and rely on the top six batsman to score runs on a flat batting track. He said India needed to pick five bowlers if they had any chance of taking 20 Australian wickets.

“If I were India, I would drop Laxman and Vinay Kumar. India will need three quicks, and should look at playing their two spinners Ravichandran Ashwin and Pragyan Ojha in Adelaide,” Jones wrote in his column in the Sydney Morning Herald.

“India need to take risks for the Adelaide Test if they want to win. They need five bowlers to get Australia out on a flat deck in Adelaide.”

Jones feels India should take harsh steps if they want to regain the No.1 spot in Tests.

“India still don’t get it on how to win Test matches. They need bowlers who bowl over 145km/h - unless you are a cagey bowler like a Zaheer.”

“If you look at recent history, with the success of the West Indies (1979-95), Australia (1995-2005), England (since 2006) and this Australian team, all have three or more bowlers who bowl over 145km/h. That’s why they have been winners,” he added.

Jones said it was high-time India stopped relying on the seniors and needed to look to the future if they are to win back the respect that the team has lost after the drubbing in England and Australia.

“This Indian team craves respect, but the way India are going about it, they will lose more than just respect. The Indians look tired and too slow in the field. They must stop idolising their greats, and start looking to the future,” said Jones.