Didn’t want one on this track: Kohli

Perth, December 18

Virat Kohli effectively admitted to misreading the pitch at Perth’s new stadium after not picking a frontline spinner in a Test match in which off-spinner Nathan Lyon picked up eight wickets, to be the named Man of the Match.

India, perhaps excited by a greenish pitch, opted for an all-pace attack, drafting in Umesh Yadav for the injured Ravichandran Ashwin. 

“We didn’t think that we definitely wanted to consider a spinning option on this pitch, especially having a look at the pitch on Day 1 and how we thought it would play on the first three days,” Kohli said. “We thought a fast bowler is going to be more productive and more helpful.”

Kohli pointed out that Lyon got his wickets with his skill rather than assistance from the surface. — Agencies