MELBOURNE, Dec 25, 2020 (BSS/AFP) – Skipper Tim Paine Friday said India was
a proud nation that won’t roll over in the Boxing Day Test, and Australia
must be “bang on the mark” to inflict more misery after their Adelaide
collapse.
Australia head into the second Test in Melbourne full of confidence after
thumping the visitors by eight wickets inside three days last week, skittling
them for an embarrassing 36 in the second innings.
But Paine said it would be a mistake to underestimate India despite the
tourists missing superstar captain Virat Kohli, who has returned home for the
birth of his first child.
They will almost certainly also be without pace spearhead Mohammed Shami,
who has reportedly fractured his wrist although this has yet to be confirmed
by the team.
“We can’t pay any attention to mental scares or whatever anyone is talking
about,” Paine said of India, who were savaged at home for their Adelaide
capitulation.
“I mean, India is a proud cricket country, they are an extremely talented
Test match side with lots of dangerous players.”
India will need to make at least two changes with Kohli and Shami out, but
are widely tipped to make more after their first Test performance.
In contrast, Australia are expected to name the same XI.
Paine said Australia had studied everyone in the Indian squad and they were
ready for whoever took the field.
“We know that some of the players they’re talking about coming in to their
side, like a KL Rahul or Rishabh Pant, are dangerous players who like to take
the game on and will play positively,” he said.
“If we give players like that an inch they will take a mile, so we need to
be bang on the mark tomorrow as we were in Adelaide and be prepared to turn
up for another five day battle.”
Both teams have been living in bio-secure bubbles to ensure the series goes
ahead in the new coronavirus world and Paine admitted it was easier to do so
when you were winning.
This was another incentive for his team to again put India to the sword at
the Melbourne Cricket Ground, where up to 30,000 fans will be allowed each
day — around one-third capacity.
“We have been on overseas tours before when we have been bowled out for 50
and it can be really difficult, that’s why it’s so important for us to turn
up tomorrow with the attitude that we turned up with in the first Test,” he
said.
“We know they’re not going to roll over, we’re going to have to work our
backsides off to get them in a position like we did in Adelaide.
“If we can do it again, then Tests three and four can become a real battle
for them.”