David Warner caused mirth in the Australia dug-out by facing up right-handed to R Ashwin in the second ODI at Indore.
The southpaw took an unconventional approach by changing his usual batting stance to counter the off-spinner’s abandonment of the bat, much to the laughter of the Australian camp, especially captain Pat Cummins.
After a rain delay, Australia needed a massive 263 runs from 24 overs with eight wickets in hand. By the time the weather broke, India had posted a score of 399-5, although the tourists lost two wickets in nine overs.
When it was Ashwin’s turn, the task became even more difficult as Warner defended and went inside in the 11th over. When it was Ashwin’s turn next, the first player decided to try something different – play with his right hand raised.
First he shot one offside. He then skillfully swept the foursome, delighting and entertaining his teammates. There was another single on the next ball.
But Ashwin had the answer in the next over. Still a right-handed batsman, Carrom’s ball caught Warner as he executed a big reverse sweep, aiming for the offside or left-foot side. -Handler.
To make matters even more confusing, it turns out that Warner had an inside edge to his pads that would have been forgiven had he checked again. The wicket Ashwin fell in his three overs was the second of three and he decisively changed the match in India’s favor.
Warner has been active as a right-handed batsman, appearing as a right-handed batsman in the Bangladesh and Indian Premier Leagues, and even scoring a goal as a substitute for the Australian national team. He also practiced batting with both his right and left hands ahead of Australia’s Test tour to India earlier this year. However, this is believed to be the first time he has played against the wrong hand in international cricket.
He is the second international batsman to change stance recently, following Joe Root, who was a left-handed batsman during England’s Test tour to Pakistan last year.
