Krejza could trouble India - Bayliss

Jason Krejza, Australia's uncapped offspinner, has won an endorsement from his former mentor, the Sri Lanka coach Trevor Bayliss, ahead of the India Test series. Bayliss coached Krejza at New South Wales and he believes his propensity to turn the ball sharply could make him a dangerous weapon in India.

"He's a big spinner of the ball, and that could be an advantage," Bayliss told the Age. "If he does play, he could be a bit like Harbhajan [Singh]. He could bowl some big-turning, bouncing balls that can be difficult to play."

Krejza's selection in the 15-man squad was a surprise and he is no certainty to play a Test on the tour. An attacking bowler who likes flighting the ball, Krejza moved to Tasmania during the 2006-07 season to further his prospects.

Bayliss said during their time together at New South Wales, Krejza had been working on a delivery that was not unlike Ajantha Mendis' carrom ball. Bayliss oversaw the recent Test series in Sri Lanka where his side beat India 2-1 and Mendis was named Player of the Series for his 26 wickets.

"The unbelievable thing is how accurate he [Mendis] is with those variations," Bayliss said. "I know Krejza was working in the nets on flicking it off the middle finger to the leg side, I don't know if he still does it."

Bayliss said whoever took the ball for Australia, the key against India would be to stem the flow of runs. "One of the things we did well here," Bayliss said, "was stop them scoring by building pressure from both ends, and it doesn't matter whether you do that with pace or spin, it still works."