India and Australia are scheduled to face off in a four-match Border-Gavaskar Trophy series beginning in February, which is perhaps the biggest Test rivalry in the world right now. The tourists have been preparing for the series with some intriguing training techniques ever since they arrived in India.
Australian batters have been preparing against the off-spinner Maheesh Pithiya, who was transported from Gujarat, in the nets of Alur, that too on a doctored pitch, in order to neutralise the threat that Ravichandran Ashwin poses in the Test series.
Laxman Sivaramakrishnan, a former leg-spinner for India, recounted a similar occurrence from Australia’s tour of India in 1997–98, despite the fact that much has been written and spoken about Australia’s unusual preparations.
The rivalry between Shane Warne and Sachin Tendulkar was the focus of the buildup to the 1997–1998 India–Australia Test Series.
Sivaramakrishnan said how the former Indian batsman invited him to a camp to help him get ready for the series by imitating the late, great Aussie leggie’s deliveries.
“Most people consider what the precise goal of those training sessions was. I never intended to be a carbon copy of Shane Warne. However, having large leg-breaks was what I found to be effective. No bowler can ever be exactly like another, “During an interview with Times of India, Sivaramakrishnan stated.
Sivaramakrishnan revealed how a “observant” Tendulkar’s input assisted him in duplicating Warne’s deliveries because the team was lacking video analysts at the time.
“Back then, you didn’t have access to video experts or a vast variety of videos like you do now. We had a lot to say. He shared his thoughts with me after his encounter with Warne. Warne’s ability to generate speed off the field was clearly described by Sachin. He also helped me understand how Warne varied his pace, trajectory, and angles. Sachin was watchful to that extent. I just tried to put that into action “he added.
In addition, Sivaramakrishnan explained how Tendulkar intended to oppose Warne, who concentrated on maximising the rocky terrain outside the leg stump.
“Sachin had recently purchased new spiked shoes. He made the rough by making very strong scratches on the surface. The groundskeeper disapproved of our strategy. Therefore, we made the decision to just use one pitch over the week-long practise. The pitch became quite difficult to bat on by the third or fourth day “He remembered.
