Tom Moody, a former Australian cricketer-turned-coach and commentator, has heaped praises on the debutant T Natarajan, calling the left-arm fast bowler a “natural strong-defensive bowler”.
On the back of an impressive season for Sunrisers Hyderabad in the IPL 2020, Natarajan got a maiden India call-up and finally made his international debut for his country in the ongoing 3rd and final ODI in Canberra on Wednesday (December 2) against Australia.
Natarajan didn’t take much time to set the tone, as he got his maiden wicket in Marnus Labuschagne (7) in the 5th over of the game and Moody was just in awe for his former SRH seamer.
The Aussie knows Natarajan from close having coached him in the IPL for SRH, saying he was fortunate enough to be a part of the beginning of the bowler’s terrific story.
Moody told ESPNCricinfo: “The biggest challenge is coming to terms with the nerves of the big stage of international cricket. He has come from the backwaters of Chennai where he has learned his craft.”
He further added, “As we all know, it’s a terrific story. I was fortunate enough to be a part of the beginning of that story when we recruited him at SRH 2-3 years ago, on the back of the T20 tournament. I like what he has got to offer.”
On Natarajan’s bowling, Moody said: “I call Natarajan a defensive bowler. What he does is he builds pressure and when you are in the eye of the storm, he’s got the skills to shut the opponent down with his slower balls or yorkers, as he angles from the left-arm over.”
He also felt India should have played Natarajan in the first 2 ODIs against Australia in Sydney – where they lost both games as he feels the seamer could have been effective on Syndey's surface.
Moody signed off by saying, “India will welcome that when the runs are starting to leak, they have a good option and naturally strong-defensive bowler. They could have used him in Syndey as well, his cutters could have been effective on Syndey surface.”
