Auckland: New Zealand batsman Devon Conway is sprinkling kitty litter on follow wickets to simulate spin bowling on the tough, hoping this may assist him counter the likes of Ravichandran Ashwin throughout the World Test Championship closing in opposition to India subsequent month.
The 29-year-old has been named within the 20-member visiting NZ squad for the two-match Test sequence in opposition to England starting on June 2. The squad will then be trimmed to 15 for the World Test Championship Final in Southampton beginning on June 18, as per ICC laws.
Conway, who impressed in his first worldwide season for his adopted dwelling nation final summer time in ODIs and T20s, says he has been sprinkling kitty litter on follow wickets to simulate spin bowling pitching within the tough created by bowlers’ footmarks.
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“Basically the idea is to get the ball to sort of spit out of the rough,” Conway, who has featured in three ODIs and 14 T20Is for New Zealand, advised New Zealand broadcaster Spark Sport.
Kitty litter is granulated clay which absorbs waste merchandise of pets like cat or canines.
“It’s a bit harder to play, but good practice. It’s about finding a gameplan to combat that and just practice how you’re going to play in the game,” mentioned the left-handed batsman.
“When it does roughen up and the ball does spit and turn a lot, it’s all about being positive.”
Conway mentioned he did not need to depend on simply defending in opposition to spinners.
“If you are going to look to simply defend all through, in some unspecified time in the future there is perhaps a ball that is going to have your quantity.”