India look to exploit Australia's weakness against swing bowling: Rohit Sharma

Ricky Ponting will be joined by Test captain Michael Clarke, Michael Hussey, Brad Haddin as well as Dan Christian, Shane Watson and possibly Shaun Marsh at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) nets from next Tuesday. They will be facing bowling machines that will simulate the deliveries of tall seamer Ishant Sharma and others. "We're going to practise against the swinging ball and get our basics right before Boxing Day," Arthur was quoted as saying by The Age. Australia's star opener Shane Watson conceded last week that his team was wary of the threat posed by Ishant and Zaheer Khan.

Rohit, who is tipped to make his Test debut at some stage of the series, fired an opening salvo at the Aussies after the two-day warm-up practice tie against CA Chairman's XI yesterday. "I heard that they are having a batting camp ufffd that's actually a good sign for us. Hopefully, we will know more about their weaknesses. We will definitely keep that in mind before going into the first Test. We will look to work on their weaknesses, to put pressure on them," he said.

Rohit acknowledged that Australia has suffered numerous batting collapses in recent times including totals of 47 (against South Africa at Cape Town) and 136 (against New Zealand at Hobart). "They obviously had some issues with swing bowling. We are putting our thoughts together. There are still 10 days before the first Test. It's the right time to analyse what mistakes they are making. We will surely be studying their weaknesses further," added Rohit, who scored a brisk fifty yesterday.

Meanwhile, Rohit felt that the Boxing Day Test would be ideal setting for Mumbai teammate Sachin Tendulkar to complete a ton of international centuries. "I think it's a great place for him to do it... the only thing we want to see, me and my team-mates, all the countrymen, all the Indians around the world, we don't want to wait for too long. The wait has been on for a while. We are all hoping that he gets it in the first game itself so people will stop talking about it," he said.