Dean Jones’ advice to Australian bowlers: “Do not talk or provoke Virat Kohli”

Dean Jones’ advice to Australian bowlers: Former Australian batsman warns Australian bowlers to be careful of the Indian captain.

There is no hiding to the fact that India captain Virat Kohli holds the key for his team in the imminent Test series against Australia in Australia. With the first Test to be played from December 6 at Adelaide, all eyes are glued to the Indian captain’s bat for it is yet again expect to weave magic for India.

Fearing the same, former Australia captain Dean Jones has warned Australian bowlers regarding ‘provoking’ Kohli while he is batting in the middle. “Do not talk or provoke him. Make him your best mate. Trying to find a weakness in Kohli’s game is like trying to find something wrong with the Mona Lisa,” Jones was quoted as funnily saying in an interview with The Sydney Morning Herald.

Jones also opined with respect to what the opposition team should do to stop the phenomena in Kohli. “Teams must stop his cover drive and bowl in different areas. At the start of Kohli’s innings, quicks need to bowl at a fourth-stump line and make him play on the back foot.

“Do not give him width and length outside off-stump. Bowlers must try to set him up with short stuff first and then the odd wide ball on the drive to find the edge. Slips and gully stay on high alert,” Jones said.

Other than warning the Australian bowlers, Jones also made it a point to be critical as far as the visitors are concerned. According to Jones, if India doesn’t win the Test series this time, they will never win in Australia. In which might appear harsh to some people, it might well be the truth for this is India’s best chance to register a series win down under.

“If India doesn’t win this series, they will never win in Australia. India are miles better than Australia in all formats but do they have the belief, and will their fast bowlers last the distance? With India’s history, maybe this series will not be a fait accompli. I do feel the result will go India’s way to the tune of a 2-0 or 3-0 result, as I just can’t see Australia winning a Test anywhere,” Jones added.

The reason why he called this as India’s best chance was due to the absence of the banned duo of Steven Smith and David Warner.

“Normally when Australia play at home they are very hard to beat. But now there is no Steve Smith and David Warner, who consistently make 40 percent of Australia’s runs. For Australia to win, who is going to fill those shoes?,” he further added.

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