ICC Cricket World Cup 2023 – Australia training hard to counter the Mitchell Santner threat

In Dharamsala, during Australia’s training session, their coaches would often call for a left-arm spinner from the tent where the net bowlers sat. It seemed like every batter wanted to face left-arm spin or was asked to face left-arm spin.

Santner may not possess the same flair as Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, or Marco Jansen, but he has been effective due to his defensive approach. With pitches offering some assistance in this World Cup, Santner has been able to deceive batsmen consistently, just like Kuldeep. He has survived in limited-overs cricket thanks to his ability to vary his pace. His release points are a thing of beauty, allowing him to bowl slower and flight the ball or bowl quicker and hit the pitch.

Tom Latham, standing in as captain, spoke highly of Santner, recognizing his contributions in both one-day and T20 cricket. Latham appreciated Santner’s hard work and adaptability in different situations. He credited Santner’s experiences in the IPL and his understanding of conditions back home, where spin is not as influential.

Vettori, now an assistant coach for the opposition, is a testament to Santner’s prowess, as the opposition team is worried about facing his kind of bowling, despite the conditions in Dharamsala favoring seam bowlers. This acknowledgment speaks volumes about Santner’s abilities.