WC 2015: Former India bowling coach doubts Dhoni's men can do a Riaz against Aus

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Sydney, March 23: Joe Dawes, India's former fast-bowling coach doubts whether Mahendra Singh Dhoni's men can replicate in the semifinal what Pakistani pacer Wahab Riaz did against Australia in the quarter-final in Adelaide last Friday, a Sydney Morning Herald report said.

Riaz's venomous spell saw the fall of David Warner and Michael Clarke and Shane Watson too had almost perished but for the match-losing fielding by Rahat Ali who dropped the batsman in the deep mid-wicket.

Riaz, 29, could not stop Australia from winning but his spell during which he was also engaged in a spat with Watson is still being discussed Down Under. Such powerful was its impact.

Dawes said Indians will also try what Riaz had done but felt going around the wicket will be a bit harder than just having a left-hander, the report said. Dawes, 44, who coached Indian bowlers between 2012 and 2014, said the Indian bowlers don't have a Riaz-like factor and though Umesh Yadav has got the pace, he does not have the advantage of height.

For India, Mohammad Shami has taken 17 wickets so far at the average of 13 and he is third in the list after New Zealand's Trent Boult and Australia's Mitchell Starc. Umesh Yadav is ranked 11th in the list with 14 scalps so far.

India will take on Australia in the second semi-final at the Sydney Cricket Ground on March 26. The first semi-final in Auckland will feature New Zealand and South Africa on March 24.

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