David Warner mulls how to approach Ashwin

David Warner has struggled to face India offspinner Ravichandran Ashwin, something he is desperate to change in the third Test.

Australia's David Warner

David Warner (pic) has struggled to face India offspinner Ravichandran Ashwin. (AAP)

Desperate to halt Ravichandran Ashwin's dominance in their one-on-one battles, David Warner may unleash the reverse-sweep more often in an effort to rattle the world's top-ranked Test bowler.

India offspinner Ashwin has captured Warner's wicket a total of nine times in Tests - more than any other bowler.

The numbers, coupled with how uncomfortable Warner looked before falling twice to Ashwin in Bangalore, suggest Australia's vice-captain has a problem.

It is something Warner has been giving plenty of thought to ahead of the third Test, which starts in Ranchi on Thursday.

Batting right-handed would make life easier against Ashwin's offbreaks. Warner, an ambidextrous batsmen in his junior days, won't adopt that tactic.

But using the reverse-sweep more often is one high-risk ploy that could potentially unsettle Ashwin's accuracy.

"I'm working on a few things in the nets," Warner said.

"I know he's going to be at one end for the whole time I'm out there.

"I tried to play a reverse sweep (in the second Test). The only concern for me is the variable bounce, that's always the challenging thing.

"If you switch hit you can still be given out lbw (to a ball that pitched outside leg stump while batting left-handed), but if you reverse-sweep you can't. You have to be careful."

Ashwin boasted after the second Test that "when you have the edge on somebody and you have the sword on somebody, it just makes it that much easier".

Warner, who has often batted with without pads in recent weeks while facing local spinners in an effort to fine tune his footwook, insists he isn't worried about the prospect of becoming Ashwin's bunny.

"I know in my mind if I play a shot he will change something," the aggressive opener said.

"I know if he tries something, I'm thinking in the back of my mind how am I going to score?

"Someone is going to have your measure if they're going to bowl every second over at you. I just have to adapt.

"He's a fantastic bowler, he's got a lot of wickets in his back yard and I have to respect that."


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Source: AAP


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