08 January,2017 05:45 PM IST | | PTI
After successfully completing the clean-sweep against Pakistan on Saturday, Australia skipper Steve Smith has urged his new revamped team to switch focus to the upcoming tough tour of India
Peter Handscomb, Steve Smith, Matt Renshaw
Australian players Peter Handscomb (left), skipper Steve Smith and Matt Renshaw celebrate in the Sydney dressing room on Saturday. Pic/Getty Images
Sydney: After successfully completing the clean-sweep against Pakistan on Saturday, Australia skipper Steve Smith has urged his new revamped team to switch focus to the upcoming "tough tour" of India.
Australia beat Pakistan to win the Sydney Test by 220 runs. The tourists were all out shortly before tea on the final day for 244 chasing 465 runs with paceman Josh Hazlewood and spinner Steve O'Keefe both snaring three wickets. Wicketkeeper Sarfraz Ahmed topscored with a fighting unbeaten 72 off 70 balls for Pakistan Australia are now gearing up for a gruelling four-Test series against India in India, starting next month, and the captain said unless his boys adapt quickly to the sub-continent conditions, it would be difficult.
"It's a completely different place to play, playing on those wickets is nothing like playing here in Australia. Guys will have to adapt quickly and find a way to be successful in those conditions," Smith said.
The Aussies have not won a Test match in India since 2004 and have lost the last seven.
Smith was a member of the Australian team that was hammered 0-4 in India in 2013. "It's going to be a very difficult series going over there. We're under no illusions it's going to be tough. We're going to have to play some very good cricket if we want to compete over there. It's going to be a great challenge and learning curve for this group," said Smith.
