By BV Swagath
Australia look determined to bounce back in the 4-Test Border-Gavaskar Trophy as its players decided to use the extra day off to practice at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium in Hyderabad on Wednesday. Remember the Second Test at this same venue was done and dusted in just three days and a session with the Aussies crumbling to an innings and 235 runs defeat.
With most of their batsmen looking like novices against the Indian spinners, the Aussie team management had the perfect opportunity to provide its players batting practice on what would be a Day 5 pitch at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium.
Talking to reporters, the Aussie Coach Mickey Arthur said: "We just want to keep improving our batsmen against spin. Our players are still young, they're still learning. For them to get out there and practice on a Day Five wicket, you don't buy that kind of experience."
On being asked whether it was hard to come back to a venue where his team was battered with an innings defeat, Coach Mickey Arthur said: “The team has got a huge amount of work in these conditions. The morale is very good. The boys did a bit of soul searching last night. Any day we get to practise on a Test wicket we'll take it. Only Watson and Clarke of our top batsmen have ever played here. The more experience our young players can get the better for them in their careers”.
Meanwhile, Michael Clarke is all set to push himself up the batting order at no.4. For some reasons, Clarke has been holding himself back at no.6 and each time he has come out to bat in the middle, the Aussies have been on the backfoot and under some sort of pressure.
There is lots of time to go before the Third Test which is to be played at Mohali from the 14th of this month. The Aussies would be hoping that they get enough practice in the next nine days or so to put up a fight in the series which is already being led 2-0 by India
