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| Mickey Arthur |
Calcutta: After Australia thrashed India in the Perth Test and took an unassailable 3-0 lead in the four-match series, Australia coach Mickey Arthur on Monday said his side will “hammer down” the visitors in the ODI triangular series also once all-rounder Shane Watson returns.
“Whether he plays in Adelaide Test or not, I’m not sure. But we want him fit for the Twenty20 and ODI tri-series and I’m pretty sure we’re going to have him and that’s where he’ll hammer India down,” Arthur was quoted as saying by the Australian media.
Arthur was all praise for David Warner and said the opener would lead an Australian team at some stage.
“Davey has leadership potential. He has the ability to lead any Australian team in any form of the game at some stage. Whether that’s in next couple of weeks or in a year or five years’ time, I’m not sure,” said the Australian coach.
Arthur said India needed to infuse fresh blood in the side. “I never thought it was going to be like this. You (India) need to identify some young players. You need to find ways to get those players into the system,” he said.
Arthur also said India is still a very good team and are capable to fight back in Adelaide Test but someone has to stand up and deliver.
“I do think they can (stage a fightback). What they need is a catalyst. They need someone to stand up and say, ‘I’m going to lead the way and take the fight to Australia.’ Viru (Virender Sehwag) can do that at any time. Gautam (Gambhir) has shown sings of form. Sachin (Tendulkar) has been in outstanding nick. Zaheer Khan can do that with the ball. India are still a very, very good cricket team,” he said.
“I brought a slight dimensional change in terms of our tactics against some of the Indian batsmen. I did have the prior knowledge of where the team was. But our players deserve all the accolades. The only way you can put India under pressure is by executing your plans,” he added.
Arthur looked ahead at the Ashes series, which he described as the ultimate goal. “It’s the ultimate goal. This Indian series was a world championship cricket series for us.”
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