Australia can bank on debutant Ed Cowan: Mark Taylor
Mark Taylor said Ed Cowan was picked as a middle order shield with a view to cashing in later in innings © Getty Images
By CricketCountry Staff
Melbourne: Dec 26, 2011
With most of the Australian batsmen struggling for form, former Test skipper Mark Taylor said Michael Clarke-led team can bank on debutant Ed Cowan in the ongoing four-match Test series against India.
Australia’s 427th Test cricketer scored 68 on the first day of the Boxing Day Test.
“Cowan was very well disciplined, he left a lot more balls than most in the top order in recent times,” Taylor was quoted saying in the Herald Sun.
“He did a very good job blunting the new ball.
“He is not your typical left-hander, he’s not as comfortable working onto the leg-side but looks confident cutting and driving.”
However, Taylor said Cowan was picked as a middle order shield with a view to cashing in later in innings.
“There’s other strokeplayers in the order. His strikerate is ok as long as he goes on to make a big score. He batted well in front of 70,000 people,” said Taylor of Cowan, odds on to be retained in Sydney with Shane Watson still hampered by calf/hamstring injuries.
“He made the bowlers bowl to him. He knows where his offstump is.”
Cowan had scored nine tons since moving to Tasmania in 2009-10.
“You couldn’t have asked for a better time to be selected,” said Taylor.