Kolkata: Australia has had problems while playing spin in subcontinental conditions in recent times. While they might have prepared themselves for facing quality off-spin or leg-spin, Akshay Karnewar’s ambidextrous bowling talent left the Aussies baffled during their warm-up match against the Board President’s XI in Chennai on Tuesday.
The 24-year-old while bowling to the left-handed Travis Head, bowled right-arm off-spin and as soon as Marcus Stoinis came on strike, he changed his bowling style to left-arm off-spin without any problems. This sudden change in hands left the Aussies clueless.
After the match, the Australian all-rounder Stoinis said, “I actually didn’t know what the umpire was trying to tell me.”
He further added, “He was trying to say, ‘He’s going to bowl left arm to you.’ So that’s brilliant by him. I’ve never seen that before. Ever.”
However, this isn’t the first time that Karnewar has grabbed eyeballs with his ability to bowl with both hands. The Vidarbha lad took everyone by surprise when he showcased his unique ability against Baroda in the Syed Mushtaq Ali T20 Trophy.
He had initially started as an right-arm off-spinner but his coach Balu Navghare spotted his ability to bowl using his left-arm. Thus, it lead to him working hard on it and also gained a lot of confidence while doing the same.
Shaila Sharmin of the Bangladesh women’s cricket team possesses this unique skill.
With this extraordinary ability to bowl with both hands, Karnewar would soon hope to make it to the Indian team and give men’s international cricket it’s first ever regular ambidextrous bowler.