Rishabh Pant has suggested England take express pace bowlers to Australia on their next Ashes trip. The 26-year-old Indian wicket-keeper batsman sits in the best position to reveal details on how to win not just an odd Test match in Australia, but the series Down Under.
Rishabh Pant is one of the few Indian players to have been a crucial part of both of India’s Test series wins in Australia on the 2018/19 and 2020/21 tours. In 7 Tests in Australia, Pant scored 624 runs at an average of 62 with one century and two half-centuries, he capped off the historic 2020/21 series with an epic knock at the Gabba to seal an epic series victory.
While India have won their last two Test series in Australia, England have not managed to win a single Test match Down Under on their last three trips in 2013, 2017, and 2021. The next Ashes series will be played in Australia in 2025/26.
Having pace makes a lot of difference in Australia: Rishabh Pant
Rishabh Pant appeared on the Club Praire Fire podcast with Adam Gilchrist and Michael Vaughan in which he spoke about both batting and bowling aspects of having success in Australia.
Pant said that batters need to be on their toes to cut and pull as the ball bounces extra on Australian pitches. About bowlers, the wicket-keeper said medium-pacers – of which England have always had quite a few – don’t really trouble the batters even when there is help from the surface. He believes fast bowlers with high pace are necessary to win Test matches and series in Australia.
Rishabh Pant explained: “As a batter I would say look to cut the ball rather than punch it. Australia is the best place to cut and pull. Also you need to have extra pace (in bowling department). 130s are the best to face in Australia even if the ball is moving around. I think it makes a lot of difference (having pace).”
England have been looking after their two quickest bowlers – Mark Wood and Gus Atkinson, while Jofra Archer is still a long way from returning to white-ball cricket, let alone Test cricket.
Rishabh Pant is set to make his comeback to cricket through the IPL 2024, having recovered from the injuries he sustained in the car crash in 2022.
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