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CRICKET-IND-AUS-SHARMA
Australia ‘different ball game’, says India’s Sharma
NEW DELHI, Nov 12, 2018 (BSS/AFP) – Batsman Rohit Sharma said India were
brimming with confidence after their crushing home victories over the West
Indies — but warned that winning their first Test series in Australia was a
challenge of a different order.
India completed a 3-0 Twenty20 series sweep over the West Indies on Sunday,
to add to their 2-0 Test whitewash and 3-1 victory in the ODIs, extending
their dominating home form.
But Sharma said an away series against old rivals Australia, even without
their batsmen Steve Smith, David Warner and Cameron Bancroft, who are banned
for ball-tampering, would be a much sterner test.
“Australia is always challenging when it comes to going out there and
performing. Every time you go there, you are tested as a player, as an
individual and as a team as well,” the veteran opener said after Sunday’s
win.
“I think we have got to be at our best and when you win a series like this
(West Indies) and when you play like that in the tournament you are high on
confidence. It’s all about taking that confidence to Australia and doing what
we did as a team.”
India barely have time to catch their breath before heading on Friday to
Australia, where the first of three T20 matches is in Brisbane on November
21. They will also play four Tests and three ODIs.
The world’s number one Test side are only too aware that away from home,
their form is fragile. They went down 2-1 in South Africa and then 4-1 in
England this year.
Sharma said India must “start fresh” and forget about their recent wins if
they are to take their home consistency to Australia.
“Australia will be a different ball game I completely understand. But I
think the things that we have been doing as a team and as a player, we keep
repeating it,” he said.
“The best teams in the world keep repeating those performances. It will be
important for us that we start fresh. Not think about what we have done in
the past.”
Sharma, the only batsman to hit four T20 centuries, is part of India’s
squad for the Tests which start in Adelaide on December 6 after being
overlooked for the five-day games in England.
“I am someone who doesn’t think too far ahead. So I am focusing on the T20
series first,” said Sharma.
“Of course the Test match is something that I was looking forward for a
long time and it will be nice to go out there and represent India in Tests,
but we want to win the T20s first.”
He added: “The last time (2015-16) we played a T20 format in Australia we
won 3-0.”
BSS/AFP/BZC/1950HRS