Shortcoming

When the Australians sit down to discuss their strategy when playing against India, softening the batsmen using the short ball is a strategy they discuss at length. The short ball has troubled Indian batsmen, most recently during the World T20 in England, and these worries seemingly resulted in the recall of veteran Rahul Dravid.

“The Indians’ discomfort against the rising ball is something that comes up during our team meetings. We are aware that they can struggle against a good pace bowling attack. They are used to playing in conditions where the ball doesn’t rise above knee height. The short ball is something we will use against the Indians to unsettle them. I will bowl a few at them,” Johnson said on Wednesday.

India play Pakistan in their opening game on Saturday followed by Australia on Monday and then West Indies on Wednesday. Indian batsmen have dismissed any concerns they have against the short ball but even during the Corporate Trophy played on benign wickets in Bangalore some of the premier batsmen struggled to deal with the rising ball.

Coach Gary Kirsten has made it a regular feature at practice sessions to fire tennis balls off a racquet aimed at the body of batsmen and it waits to be seen if time spent in the nets helps them tackle the short ball better.

It is the start of the season in South Africa and the pitches here have a sub-continental touch to them. However, the better fast bowling attacks, namely Pakistan and South Africa, have been liberal in their use of the short ball. Pakistan and Australia, yet to open their campaign, have the firepower in their bowling line-up to unsettle fine batsman. Brett Lee is coming off a good series against England. For a team struggling with their bowling and looking shoddy in the field, it is vital that their big guns make short work of the rising ball.