With less than two weeks remaining for the start of the 5-match T20I series against New Zealand, Australian batsman Ashton Turner on Thursday said that that he feels most comfortable while playing in the middle-order.
Having spent BBL10 batting at No.6 for the Perth Scorchers, Ashton Turner is one of four players who could slot in at no.6 after skipper Aaron Finch said the top five would be occupied by himself, Matthew Wade, Josh Philippe, Glenn Maxwell, and Marcus Stoinis in the upcoming five-match T20I tour of New Zealand.
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Reflecting on playing in the middle order for Australia in the upcoming T20I series against New Zealand, Ashton Turner said that he spent his whole career batting in the middle order and feels most comfortable playing in that position.
"I have spent my whole career batting in the middle order for various teams, whether it is for Western Australia or in the Big Bash for the Perth Scorchers or when I have got to play for Australia. It is certainly the role I feel the most comfortable playing," Ashton Turner told Cricket.com.au.
Turner further said he was confident about doing well if he gets an opportunity to play.
"I feel like if selected I have got the skills and I feel like I am playing well enough to do a good job for the team but that being said, there are some quality guys in our squad who also bat in the middle order. I have got no doubt whichever way the selection hammer falls that the XI we put out onto the park is going to be really competitive," he said.
Since the last T20I World Cup, Australia has tried thirteen players for number 6 spot but none of them set the stage on fire. In fact, they have collectively averaged only 10.21 at a strike rate of 98.25.
Addressing the same, Turner said it's difficult for a middle-order batsman to bat in T20 cricket as he might have to try to find a boundary in his first or second ball and added that it’s a great skill to be able to walk out to bat and not face dot balls.
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"Quite often the role of a middle-order batter is to walk out and you might have to try to find a boundary in your first or second ball. That is something you do not prepare for in red-ball cricket, so I like to think my training reflects that.
“I do not train for as long in T20 cricket but it's a really high-intensity and certainly a skill to be able to walk out to bat and not face dot balls, to score really quickly and potentially need to find the boundary early.
It is a skill to be able to get off strike and get your mate who is at the other end on strike and being really adaptable. I like to think my training reflects all situations," he concluded.
The five-match T20I series between New Zealand and Australia will begin on 22nd February.
(ANI/ Cricket.com.au inputs)
