XtraTime Web Desk – After suffering from an embarrassing loss in the hands of Australia in the first test, a lot of things have changed in the Indian squad. Virat Kohli returned to India for the birth of his child, Mohammed Shami ruled out of the test series and most importantly, key Indian batsmen are not in a good touch.
Justin Langer, coach of the Australian team agreed that the absence of Kohli and Shami will give an advantage to them by saying, “Whatever sport you play, if you put two of your stars out (it’ll be an advantage for the opposition). Virat Kohli is one of all time great players. I think Shami is real glue for the Indian bowling attack because he’s very skillful. So, of course it gives us an advantage but it’s not an advantage that we know we have to keep working hard and the process”. He added, “Whenever you take the best players out from any cricket team, then of course that weakens them. That’s reality. So yes, that gives us an advantage”.
Australian bowlers were in magnificent form in the second innings of the Adelaide test. Josh Hazlewood and Pat Cummins ran havoc and Indian players had no answer to their deliveries. Speaking about their bowling lineup, Langer said, “I’m glad that I’ve got them in my side and not in other side, that’s for sure. Outstanding (players)! The other thing is, they all are great mates. They love to work together as a unit”.
Speaking about their preparations going into boxing Day test, Langer said, “We know how good team India is. We have to keep getting improving. If we have to become a great test team, we have to win after we win. People don’t quite understand that but really good teams keep winning and winning. Particularly when they play good cricket. So, it’s an area where we have addressed. We have to start well in the boxing day morning and then be consistent because India we know will fight back as we saw in the first two days of the first test in Adelaide”.