Australia hire Sriram Sridharan as spin consultant

Team Udayavani, Jan 17, 2017, 12:30 PM IST

Melbourne (Australia): To counter India in spin-friendly conditions in the upcoming Test series, Cricket Australia has hired former India spinner Sriram Sridharan as spin consultant.

Sridharan, who played eight ODIs for India between March 2000 to December 2004, had assisted the Australian team on the Sri Lanka tour as well as the World Twenty20 in India last year.

“Sri has worked with us on a number of occasions now all across our pathway system and he is currently in Dubai with our Under-16 team providing his expertise on sub-continental conditions. He knows our players very well and has a wealth of knowledge on the conditions that our players will face in India,” Pat Howard, Cricket Australia’s Executive General Manager Team Performance, said in a release.

40-year-old Sridharan, who claimed nine ODI wickets with his left-arm spin in his career, is excited for the four-Test series, beginning February 23 in Pune.

“I consider it a great honour to be given the opportunity to work with the Australian Men’s Team once again. I really look forward to adding value and contributing to a winning cause, against a quality opposition. India is regarded as one of the toughest places to tour as a Test playing nation and I am looking forward to the challenge,” he said.