John Hastings has backed his Victoria teammate Fawad Ahmed to bounce back and dominate the NSW batsmen in their Sheffield Shield clash despite the legspinner's mauling at the hands of the Blues on Thursday.
Ahmed claimed six wickets in the first innings of last week's game against Western Australia to mount a push for a Test debut in the Ashes opener at the Gabba on November 21.
However, the Pakistan-born leggie's hopes of a call-up suffered a setback as he claimed figures of 1-91 off 21 overs in the Blues' first innings of 353.
NSW were bowled out at the MCG at stumps on day two with a first-innings' lead of 117 runs following centuries from Test duo David Warner (104 off 87 balls) and Steve Smith (107 off 169 balls).
Paceman Hastings, who took 5-61 including the prize wicket of Test skipper Michael Clarke for 43, says Ahmed has kept a level head.
"He's going OK," Hastings said.
"The spell he bowled late in the day was a very good one.
"He had the flight, drop and was spinning it as well. The wicket was just starting to turn, so he'll have a big part to play in the second innings for us.
"He didn't (lose heart). That's the thing we love about him.
"And he wants the ball in his hand all the time. Even if he's going for six or seven an over - he can bowl that ball that can change the game."
Clarke and Warner shared a crucial 104-run stand for the third wicket after the Blues had been 2-59.
Warner showed measured aggression but lost his cool three deliveries after reaching three figures and was caught at mid-on, playing a loose pull shot at a wide ball from Scott Boland (2-69).
Clarke was out 12 runs later as Hastings removed the skipper lbw.
Peter Nevill (42) and Smith added 102 for the fifth wicket, guiding the Blues to first-innings points. Nevill was lbw to Hastings at 5-277.
Hastings noted Warner had also been unstoppable when the two sides clashed in the one-day tournament.
"We've got to come up with a plan, even if it's just to get him off strike and attack the other guy," Hastings said.
Smith said Warner, whose hundred came after three centuries in the one-day domestic series last month, had batted beautifully.
"If he's scoring a hundred off 80-odd balls like he did you're always going to be doing pretty well," Smith said.
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