Former Australia paceman Geoff Lawson mounted a scathing attack on the Indian tactics here on Saturday.
Speaking to The Hindu , the 57-year-old Lawson said, “The Indian tactics have been mystifying. Look at the field placements. Steven Smith was past his hundred and you did not have a fielder between point and cover. You are just not encouraging the bowler to bowl just outside the off-stump.”
The Australian spearhead for much of the ’80s — he has 180 wickets from 46 Tests — Lawson felt the Indian pace attack had potential but needed guidance.
Lawson said, “Aaron and Yadav have speed but need clear tactics. Their plans in the series have been very puzzling.”
Lawson, who coached Pakistan for two years, added, “There has not been much flexibility in plans. Once plan ‘A’ does not work you have to go to plan ‘B’. But the Indians have not had a plan ‘B’.”
He elaborated, “In Adelaide, where the pitch often is more like what you find in India, the pacemen bowled round the wicket. And they bounced too much at the ’Gabba and here.
“The trap that bowlers from India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka fall into here is that when they see so much bounce, they get carried away.”
On M.S. Dhoni’s captaincy, Lawson said, “If he is the guy who is in charge of the tactics, he has not been flexible enough.”
Lawson also said India had missed swing bowler Bhuvneshwar Kumar in the series so far. “He has better control and also moves the ball. I hope he plays in Sydney.”
For Lawson, accuracy is an essential ingredient.
