Colombo, Sep 21(ANI): Australia vice-captain Shane Watson is happy with the fact that Colombo's Premadasa Stadium is offering plenty of pace and bounce for quick bowlers, but also admitted that the pitch would start offering more for the spinners as the tournament progresses.
Watson starred with the bat and ball in Australia's opening group match against Ireland last night, taking 3-26 and then top-scoring with 51 off 30 balls, as Australia restricted Ireland to 7-123 and reached the target with seven wickets and 4.5 overs to spare.
Left-arm quick Mitchell Starc (2-20) was swinging the ball around, while teenager Pat Cummins bowled with good pace, but failed to claim a wicket.
Spinners Glenn Maxwell (1-12 off two overs) and Brad Hogg (1-22 off four) were also damaging while medium-pace bowling all-rounder Dan Christian (0-11 off two) was tidy.
"It had some really nice pace and bounce in it. I know throughout the tournament the more the wickets are going to be used, the more tired they'll get and the more they will spin," News.com.au quoted Watson, as saying.
"We know it's going to be a very big challenge against the better spinners in the world. We've got the guys to be able to make the most of that wicket that's got a bit of pace and bounce as well," he added.
One of Australia immediate concern will be West Indies spinner Sunil Narine, who last week was named the ICC's Emerging Player of the Year and will take on the Australians on Saturday. (ANI)