Sachin Tendulkar thinks Steve Smith’s unconventional batting
stance will require a different approach from Indian bowlers, and has urged
them to go for the fifth off-stump, PTI reported.

Smith missed out on India’s last visit to Australia in
2018-19 due to ball-tampering, and will be looking forward to making a comeback
against the side he has six centuries and a 92 against in Test cricket.

“Smith’s technique is unconventional…Normally, we
tell a bowler in Test matches to bowl on and around off-stump or may be fourth
stump line. But for Smith, because he shuffles, may be that line (of delivery)
moves further away by four to five inches,” PTI quoted Tendulkar as
saying.

Former ODI captain and the legendary batsman stressed
that the idea of bowling between an imaginary fourth and fifth wicket is a
mental adjustment.

“I don’t know if they will have greenish wickets for the
ball to do a little bit …” the former number 10 wonders, adding that along with
India’s pace battery consisting of Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammad Shami and Umesh
Yadav, there should be a defensive bowler as well.

He also relied on keeping the ball in the aforementioned
zone and adding a backup bowler to maintain the pressure on Australia.

Read more: Sachin Tendulkar shares ‘wonderful gift’ that Brian Lara, Chris Gayle gave him on retirement

“…along
with our attacking bowlers, we should also identify bowlers who can hold one
end up on unresponsive pitches, bowl those continuous maiden overs to build the
pressure,” Tendulkar said.

Speaking
about the Indian opening pair, he preferred Mayank Agarwal to start off along
with Rohit Sharma in case the latter is fit and ready to play.

Read more: Rohit Sharma better captain than Virat Kohli: Gautam Gambhir

In
the Aussie squad, on the other hand, the master-blaster seemed excited about
the return of Smith, Warner, and Marcus Labuschagne.