U19 WC 2022: Nivedhan Radhakrishnan shines for Australia with his ambidextrous bowling
Australia came up with a strong performance against the hosts West Indies in the opening encounter of the U19 World Cup and Nivedhan Radhakrishnan was one of the most impressive youngsters in the game. The 19-year-old, having been born in Chennai, Tamil Nadu moved to Australia with his family at 10 years of age and he looks very promising for the future. One of the unique features of the youngster was being an ambidextrous bowler who can bowl left-arm and right arm both
Nivedhan picked up three wickets for 48 runs in his 10-over spell against West Indies and took the confidence into his batting as well. The left-hander played an important cameo in the middle order with 31 off 58 deliveries. Ambidextrous bowling is still a rare commodity in international cricket and not many bowlers have been able to do that.
Nivedhan Radhakrishnan suggests a change in rule
The youngster, in an interview with ICC, had mentioned that he intends to bowl with both hands with informing the umpire which has been the rule so far. He reminded of the privileges that the batters get in the modern-day game and wanted the bowlers to have a fair advantage as well. He also noted the reverse sweeps and switch hits playing in the minds of the bowlers and wanted the same to go through a batter.
“I think I should be able to bowl both hands without telling the umpire. A batter switch-hits, a batter reverse sweeps. What if I could run in, he doesn’t not know what I’m about to bowl because the chances are I don’t know where is he about to hit. It’s only fair,” he told ICC.
Meanwhile, Nivedhan’s spell along with Tom Whitney’s and Copper Conolly picking up 3 wickets each, restricted the West Indies side to a paltry score of 169 on the board. Australia chased down the score with 5.1 overs left and 6 wickets, in the end, thanks to some brilliant batting from the opener Teague Wyllie who stayed unbeaten on 86. The other game in Group D saw the Sri Lanka U19 side winning the Scotland U19 side.
