With all the focus on the pitch, Steve Smith showed the Australian mindset by not even glancing at it as he walked past it after a net session. Walking alongside him, Mitchell Marsh also preferred not to engage in any debate on the pitch
Australia's Matt Renshaw, Steve Smith and Ashton Agar during a training session in Bangalore yesterday. Pic/PTI
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Bangalore: After the debacle in Pune all the attention has shifted from bat and ball to the 22-yard-strip laid out for the Bangalore Test starting tomorrow at the Chinnaswamy Stadium.
With all the focus on the pitch, Steve Smith showed the Australian mindset by not even glancing at it as he walked past it after a net session. Walking alongside him, Mitchell Marsh also preferred not to engage in any debate on the pitch.
"Both teams have to play on the same 22 yards. Whatever pitch is prepared, we are ready to play on it." Marsh told
the media.
Australia's 333-run win at the Maharashtra Cricket Association ground in Pune on Saturday has certainly boosted their morale. The bowlers fed splendidly as the Indian batsmen could occupy the crease for only 74 overs in the Test.
On the eve of the first Test, they almost panicked into playing three spinners and leaving out paceman Josh Hazelwood, but now they are confident of excelling on any pitch. One significant factor that has caused this turnaround in the Australian approach has been the fact that each batsman has made it their primary goal to have a defensive strategy against the Indian spinners.
In the past the Australians have been guilty of showing too much aggression but this time around they are willing to occupy the crease. "Here it's about batting long periods of time and to do that you've got to have a good defence because you are always going to get balls to score (off) and the longer you bat in these conditions the easier it gets. That's the game plan," said Marsh.
The fact that Australia have a game plan that has brought them success has allowed them to concentrate on executing their plans rather that getting caught up in all the discussion about the pitch.
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