Watch: R Ashwin quickly decoded David Warner’s right-handed ploy to combat his off-spin, deceiving the Australia opener with a carrom ball in the second ODI at Indore.
Warner had opted to switch his stance when facing the legendary India spinner, and did so with good effect at first. After struggling against the turn as a leftie, he hit six in three balls off Ashwin in an over, including a swept four that was greatly enjoyed in the away dug-out.
Coming to Ashwin’s next over, and he had a plan. Warner was still facing up as a right-hander, and so he delivered a carrom ball. The Australian therefore went to reverse sweep, but missed and was stuck plumb in front.
The strangeness didn’t end there, with Warner opting to review but replays showing he had got a significant inside-edge on the ball.
Warner has toyed with being a right-hander before, taking guard as a right-hander in the Bangladesh and Indian Premier Leagues, and unfurled the switch hit for Australia in the past. He also practiced batting both right- and left-handed ahead of Australia’s Test tour of India earlier this year. However, it is believed that this is the first time he has faced up with his opposite hand in international cricket.
He follows Joe Root, who took guard as a left-hander on England’s Test tour of Pakistan last year, as an international batter to switch stances in recent times.
Watch Ashwin outfox Warner below:
One of the strangest dismissals you'll see.
David Warner faces up right-handed, so R Ashwin delivers a carrom ball, so Warner reverse sweeps, misses, and is lbw.
Except replays showed he actually got an inside-edge, but didn't review 😅#INDvAUS pic.twitter.com/bcfdObyiZ8
— Wisden (@WisdenCricket) September 24, 2023