Matthew Hayden

New Delhi: Australian opener Matthew Hayden on Sunday toiled for four hours at the nets and said was ready for a big knock in the third Test against India beginning on Wednesday.

Hayden, generally considered the backbone of Australian batting, played miserably in the first two Tests in Bangalore and Mohali. “With two games to go, I expect to play very well in those two Tests,” Hayden said.

The following are excerpts

On Australia’s preparations for the third Test

So far it’s been good. We are 0-1 down in the series because India played very well in the last game. Australia played very well in the first Test but didn’t get the desired result and so we are down in the series. I had a look at the Kotla track and it does look like a good batting pitch. We will surely make a comeback.

His own preparations

I’ve put in a lot of work in a month in India but it has not quite paid off. But I’m very confident with the way I’m playing now. A big score is round the corner... For me it’s a good opportunity really to spend some time in the middle. These next 13 days of cricket will shape the way we want to play the game. Today’s extended net session was to replicate what I want to do in the next 13 days.

If he agrees that he has struggled against Zaheer Khan in the series so far

I think when a bowler is successful against a particular batsman he knows he has got certain strategies that’s working for him. But, of course, I believe in my heart that I have been extremely successful against Zaheer before and I believe he knows it well. So it’s a good fight. Things might be different this time.

On what happened after Zaheer dismissed him in Mohali

After I got dismissed, Zaheer was obviously very excited and I think Chris Broad dealt with it in a way that was appropriate. I can assure you that Hayden had no role to play in that incident. We really tried to concentrate on various disciplines within our game. We are extremely optimistic of the competition ahead.

Having problem in dealing with reverse swing

Whenever we come to India, the talk is always about spin bowling. It has been so over a long period of time. But reverse swing is something Australian cricket has come across in the past. We know it’s a weapon in modern game with wicket playing good and hard. When I first started playing cricket there used to be greener conditions, which allowed conventional swing. It’s part of the modern day game to combat reverse swing and I think our strategy is good enough to combat that.

Stuart Clark’s fitness

Stuart had a good bowl today. I think it’s a matter of time and we’ll assess him tomorrow.