Spinning Sandhu leads Australia A stars

The dual talents of Gurinder Sandhu emerged as a surprising highlight to Australia A’s four-day clashes with India A over the past fortnight.

After a drawn affair to open their tour, the Australians surged to a 10-wicket win in Chennai yesterday, with Sandhu one of several stars for the team led by batsman Usman Khawaja, playing in his first first-class fixtures since recovering from a knee reconstruction.

Quick Single: Australia A romp to 10-wicket win

Khawaja, who plays with Sandhu at Sydney Thunder, utilised a little known string to his teammate’s bow – off-spin bowling – to great effect in both fixtures.

The 22-year-old, who has established his name as a paceman with New South Wales over the past couple of seasons and made his ODI debut against India in January, took 10 wickets across the two matches – including three in 10 balls with his off-spin late in India A’s second innings yesterday.

In the post-match media conference, as his captain joked the next step would be for Sandhu to open the batting, the man himself was quick to downplay his off-spinning exploits.

"I am not even a part-time off-spinner," he smiled. "If conditions are helping a little bit (I will bowl spin).

If you have to try something different and if the captain needs to try something different, break a partnership … I am happy to put my hand up and say I will give you an over or two.

"For me, it is not about thinking too much, just putting revs on the ball and picking wickets, try and break a partnership and keep it simple.

"I have only tried off-spin for an over in a Sheffield Shield game. The skipper had some faith in me (today) and the conditions are more suitable to spin.”

Sandhu, who bats left-handed, also chimed in with a devastating 36 from 27 balls in Australia A’s first innings on Wednesday, which included four sixes.

Few bowlers have been able to master two disciplines at an elite level, with the most famous example that of left-armer Sir Garfield Sobers, who took 235 Test wickets with a combination of pace, orthodox and Chinaman spin.

More recently, Australia’s Colin Miller enjoyed a belated international career and even won the prestigious Test Player of the Year in 2001 employing his medium-pace seamers and clever off-spin.

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Tall, powerful and with the ability to swing the new ball, Sandhu is clearly already on the radar of Australia’s selectors, and it remains to be seen just what – if any – influence this extra talent has on his prospects for higher honours.

Sandhu wasn’t the only Australian to shine in the two four-day matches, which precede the triangular one-day series that also includes South Africa A, beginning in Chennai on Wednesday when the Aussies meet the Proteas.

Australia A: notable performers

Cameron Bancroft (WA): 224 runs at 74.66

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The 22-year-old made a match-winning 150 in the second game, underscoring his value as a reliable opening batsman. Good judges have him pencilled in for higher honours, and the right-hander will doubtless improve under the tutelage of WA mentor Justin Langer.

Steve O’Keefe (NSW): 14 wickets at 20.07

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O’Keefe made his Test debut in the UAE last year off the back of a superb first-class record. The left-arm orthodox spinner struggled in that match against the brilliance of Younis Khan and co, however he only enhanced his credentials in a couple of rare subcontinental outings, even clean bowling a well set Virat Kohli in game two.

Peter Handscomb (Vic): 91 runs at 30.33

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Playing purely as a batsman in this side, Peter Handscomb had a mixed couple of matches – kick-starting his tour with an excellent 91 and following it up with a pair of ducks.

“He’s certainly come a long way in the last 18 months,” O’Keefe told cricket.com.au. “He reminds me a little bit of Steve Smith the way that he plays spin – he uses his feet really well, he’s not afraid to hit against the spin, square of the wicket, and he does it quite successfully.”

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