Australia coach Darren Lehmann has lauded his team for giving a remarkable performance against Pakistan at the MCG while admitting that the hosts need to flourish on seam and spin-friendly conditions in order to become the team to beat in all conditions.
“You just have to keep improving day in, day out. We have got to get better at the game. I know that is an old analogy, I say it every time – our skills are very good in patches and not good enough in patches. For a young side, we have got to get better at playing with the seaming ball, the swinging ball, the spinning ball and making sure we are driving games as we did [at the MCG],” Lehmann said.
The young Australian team is showing some early signs of enhancement before the India tour which would definitely be the tough one for the Kangaroos particularly while facing the spin duo (Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja) of No. 1 side India.
“I thought Pakistan reversed the ball quite well in the first innings. We coped with that better than we have in the past. That was pleasing. But it’s going to be a challenge again up in Sydney, if it reverses and spins. They are a quality side, so we need to keep improving day in, day out,” Lehmann stated.
During the Ashes 2015, Australia’s batting line-up struggled in the swinging conditions and then failed to prosper in Sri Lanka earlier this year.
“It’s all right when it’s in this form of the game, MCG where the wicket is flat [but the] SCG will be different, where it reversed,” Lehmann added.
At the helm, Lehmann has been encouraging players after losing Tests against Sri Lanka followed by South Africa at home which further led to the sacking of the Cricket Australia’s chairman of selectors Rod Marsh.
Setting the standard of fielding high would be the first priority for Lehmann and Australian fielding coach Greg Blewett, before heading into the crucial four-match series in India which is scheduled in February.
“Our fielding is up to standard, a lot better than it has been in the past six months so [I am] really pleased for the fielding group, taking some good catches. So, for us, that is a change as well and we pride ourselves with the young guys to be athletic, move around the field,” Lehmann concluded.
Australia will face Pakistan in the third and final Test of the Commonwealth Bank Series at Sydney from January 3.