India's cricketers are uncertain what to expect from the new-age Australians.
Will they be sledged by the Aussies in the first Test starting on Thursday in Adelaide? Or will the host nation play nice?
Cheteshwar Pujara in action against the Cricket Australia XI.Credit:AP
India batsman Cheteshwar Pujara isn't sure.
"Sledging, I don't know," Pujara said.
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"I can't say what happens when we start playing the first Test match.
"But one thing which we are sure of is to play competitive cricket and enjoy our game rather than worrying about sledging.
"When the Test match starts, if it [sledging] happens, it happens. But we are not very much focused on it.
"What we are focused on is to play good cricket and to win the Test series here."
India haven't won a Test series in Australia in 11 attempts but most pundits rate this their best chance, given the ball-tampering suspensions of Australians Steve Smith, David Warner and Cameron Bancroft.
The bans have ushered in a fresh era of Australian cricket with captain Tim Paine and his teammates trying to regain respect after criticism for past boorish behaviour.
The suspensions have also weakened Australia's batting line-up and Pujara was adamant India's fast bowlers can capitalise.
"In the last few years we have produced some quality fast bowlers," Pujara said.
"When it comes to fast bowling, this is probably one of the best fast bowling attacks we have in many years."
India's squad will train at Adelaide Oval on Tuesday after rest days following a tour game which ended in Sydney on Saturday.
A Cricket Australia XI amassed 544 against the tourists but Pujara was unfazed by the inability of India's bowlers to make inroads at the SCG.
"Conceding 500 runs in a warm-up game doesn't mean anything," he said.
"Our bowlers know what they have to do."
AAP
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India's cricketers are uncertain what to expect from the new-age Australians.
Will they be sledged by the Aussies in the first Test starting on Thursday in Adelaide? Or will the host nation play nice?
Cheteshwar Pujara in action against the Cricket Australia XI.Credit:AP
India batsman Cheteshwar Pujara isn't sure.
"Sledging, I don't know," Pujara said.
Advertisement
"I can't say what happens when we start playing the first Test match.
"But one thing which we are sure of is to play competitive cricket and enjoy our game rather than worrying about sledging.
"When the Test match starts, if it [sledging] happens, it happens. But we are not very much focused on it.
"What we are focused on is to play good cricket and to win the Test series here."
India haven't won a Test series in Australia in 11 attempts but most pundits rate this their best chance, given the ball-tampering suspensions of Australians Steve Smith, David Warner and Cameron Bancroft.
The bans have ushered in a fresh era of Australian cricket with captain Tim Paine and his teammates trying to regain respect after criticism for past boorish behaviour.
The suspensions have also weakened Australia's batting line-up and Pujara was adamant India's fast bowlers can capitalise.
"In the last few years we have produced some quality fast bowlers," Pujara said.
"When it comes to fast bowling, this is probably one of the best fast bowling attacks we have in many years."
India's squad will train at Adelaide Oval on Tuesday after rest days following a tour game which ended in Sydney on Saturday.
A Cricket Australia XI amassed 544 against the tourists but Pujara was unfazed by the inability of India's bowlers to make inroads at the SCG.
"Conceding 500 runs in a warm-up game doesn't mean anything," he said.
"Our bowlers know what they have to do."
AAP
