Quantcast

Holland preaches value of patience

Australia A spinner reaps rewards of trusting his process in four-day match in Bengaluru

Jon Holland has cited patience as the key to his matchwinning performance in Bengaluru on Wednesday as Australia A eyes a 2-0 series sweep.

The Victoria spinner claimed 6-81 in the second innings to spearhead Australia A’s 98-run victory over India A.

Picked ahead of fellow slow bowlers Ashton Agar and Mitchell Swepson for the first of two unofficial Tests ahead of next month’s series against Pakistan, Holland collected nine wickets for the match to push his case for an international recall.

The 31-year-old has played two Tests for Australia – both against Sri Lanka – with his last appearance in the five-day format coming in August, 2016.

Holland dismantled India A’s batting line-up on day four after the home side successfully negotiated the first hour in their pursuit of 262 for victory.

The were ultimately bowled out for 163, with only Mayank Agarwal (80 from 189 balls) offering meaningful resistance before he was removed by Holland.

Holland finds form quickly in Shield return

“The way the game was going … I think if we stayed in the game and built a lot of pressure we were going to create chances,” Holland said.

“The way it went, we did.

“I probably wasn’t bowling as well as I would have liked early.

“I knew that the way the wicket was playing, if I had have just stayed in the game and get the overs under my belt, hopefully something would change.

“A wicket over the wicket did create an opportunity for a new batsman. It’s always hard to start out there and I got myself back in the game.”

Holland claimed 50 wickets in the JLT Sheffield Shield in a standout summer in 2016-17 and could partner Nathan Lyon against Pakistan in the UAE on what are expected to be spin-friendly tracks.

He sent down 24.3 overs in the second innings against India A, backing up his 29.1 overs in the first dig and underlining his consistency.

Holland takes four wickets in 11 balls in Darwin

Holland said his approach did not differ greatly from home conditions.

“Field placements and that sort of thing, you need to stay patient and just hit the stumps more often than not,” he said.

“Hopefully something will happen in the wicket and put a bit of doubt in the batsman.

"But I don’t think I bowled completely different to what I do in Australia.”

Holland was ably supported by pacemen Brendan Doggett, Chris Tremain and Michael Neser as pressure was applied from both ends.

“It wasn’t a wicket that we were going to blast them out on,” he said.

“We were going to stay patient and crash the length and hit the stumps and something was going to happen, and it did.

“I think the quicks did an excellent job on a flat wicket.

“They bowled short balls. (India A) looked uncomfortable on the short ball (and) wasn’t sure if it was going to get up or stay lo, so they had to play it.

“They didn’t go for any runs and they created chances and took a few wickets as well."

Which teammate will dominate this summer?

Holland added Queenslander Doggett, who returned match figures of 3-98, “shook them up a little bit”.

In selection news, South Australia wicketkeeper Alex Carey will return to Australia to be home for the birth of his child, with Peter Handscomb to take the gloves in the second match against India A, Starting September 8.

Marnus Labuschagne will remain with the squad for that game, while Matthew Renshaw is progressing well from a hamstring injury and is likely to be available for selection.

Australia A Tour of India

Australia A four-day squad: Mitchell Marsh (c), Alex Carey (vc), Ashton Agar, Brendan Doggett, Peter Handscomb, Travis Head, Jon Holland, Usman Khawaja, Michael Neser, Joel Paris, Kurtis Patterson, Matthew Renshaw, Mitch Swepson, Chris Tremain

Four-day fixtures in Vizag

2-5 September v India A

8-11 September v India A