Australia look to turn screw against India who make several changes
RESENDING WITH COMPLETE SCRIPT
VIDEO SHOWS: NEWS CONFERENCE WITH AUSTRALIA CAPTAIN, TIM PAINE, AUSTRALIA PRACTICE SESSION AT THE MELBOURNE CRICKET GROUND (MCG), NEWS CONFERENCE WITH INDIA CAPTAIN, AJINKYA RAHANE
SHOWS:
MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA (DECEMBER 24, 2020) (AUSTRALIAN BROADCASTING CORPORATION - Broadcasters: NO USE AUSTRALIA Digital: NO USE AUSTRALIA .COM.AU INTERNET SITES / ANY INTERNET SITE OF ANY AUSTRALIA BASED MEDIA ORGANISATIONS OR MOBILE PLATFORMS / AUSTRALIA NVO CLIENTS / SMH.COM .AU / NEWS.COM AU)
1. MELBOURNE CRICKET GROUND
2. PLAYERS AT CATCHING PRACTICE
MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA (DECEMBER 25, 2020) (CRICKET AUSTRALIA HANDOUT - ACCESS ALL)
3. (SOUNDBITE) (English) AUSTRALIA CAPTAIN, TIM PAINE, RESPONDING TO QUESTION ABOUT WHETHER INDIA WILL BE STRUGGLING MENTALLY AFTER THE FIRST TEST DEFEAT, SAYING:
"Yes, well again, we can't pay any attention to mental scars or whatever that people are talking about. We know India is a proud cricket country, they're an extremely talented test match side with lots of dangerous players so the moment we take our foot off the pedal and think we're going alright we saw in England that in that fifth test that we can come unstuck pretty quickly. So, a huge focus of our since that that fifth test in the Ashes has been on winning after winning and our attitude towards the next game and you know the last week we've been fantastic in the way we've prepared for this game. We know that some of the players they're talking about coming into their side like a KL Rahul or a Rishabh Pant, are dangerous players who like to take the game on and will play positively so if we give guys like that an inch they'll take a mile. So, we have to be bang on the mark tomorrow as we were in Adelaide and prepare to turn up tomorrow for another five-day battle. We know that we won the first test well but it was only stumps on day two where we were in a serious fight to win that test match so that's the attitude we're taking into this next test."
MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA (DECEMBER 24, 2020) (AUSTRALIAN BROADCASTING CORPORATION - Broadcasters: NO USE AUSTRALIA Digital: NO USE AUSTRALIA .COM.AU INTERNET SITES / ANY INTERNET SITE OF ANY AUSTRALIA BASED MEDIA ORGANISATIONS OR MOBILE PLATFORMS / AUSTRALIA NVO CLIENTS / SMH.COM .AU / NEWS.COM AU)
4. TRAINING SESSION IN PROGRESS
5. WICKETKEEPER TIM PAINE
MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA (DECEMBER 25, 2020) (CRICKET AUSTRALIA HANDOUT - ACCESS ALL)
6. (SOUNDBITE) (English) AUSTRALIA CAPTAIN, TIM PAINE, SAYING:
"Yes, it's certainly a challenge I doubt about that and living in a hub or a bubble is certainly easier when you're playing well there's no doubt about that. But, again the flip side of that is you're really close, you're really tight knit it and you're always around each other so it can go both ways but yes look we've been overseas tours before to India or in South Africa where we were bowled out for 50 and it can be really difficult. So, again as that's why it's so important for us tomorrow to turn up with the attitude that we turned up in the first test. We know they're not going to roll over. We're going to have to work our backsides off to get them in a position like we did in Adelaide and if we can do it again then yes, tests three and four can become a real battle for them but yes first we've got to start tomorrow well and put them back under the pump."
MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA (DECEMBER 24, 2020) (AUSTRALIAN BROADCASTING CORPORATION - Broadcasters: NO USE AUSTRALIA Digital: NO USE AUSTRALIA .COM.AU INTERNET SITES / ANY INTERNET SITE OF ANY AUSTRALIA BASED MEDIA ORGANISATIONS OR MOBILE PLATFORMS / AUSTRALIA NVO CLIENTS / SMH.COM .AU / NEWS.COM AU)
7. STEVE SMITH THROWING BALL DURING PRACTICE
8. SPIN BOWLER NATHAN LYON WARMING UP
MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA (DECEMBER 25, 2020) (CRICKET AUSTRALIA HANDOUT - ACCESS ALL)
9. (SOUNDBITE) (English) AUSTRALIA CAPTAIN, TIM PAINE, SAYING:
"Yes, it's going to be different, isn't it. Seeing the MCG (Melbourne Cricket Ground) sometimes with 30,000 in it you're a bit disappointed when you turn up but I think tomorrow, again, it's going to have a completely different feel. Victoria has had a harsher lockdown than most of us so to have 30,000 people there, if you had told us that a few months ago I don't think we would have believed you and as I've said before we're just lucky to be playing a Boxing Day test at the MCG and to have 30,000 fans there is certainly better than not playing the Boxing Day test at the MCG. So, everyone is excited even being around the MCG this week in training hasn't got its usual buzz about it but it's still a magnificent place to play cricket."
MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA (DECEMBER 24, 2020) (AUSTRALIAN BROADCASTING CORPORATION - Broadcasters: NO USE AUSTRALIA Digital: NO USE AUSTRALIA .COM.AU INTERNET SITES / ANY INTERNET SITE OF ANY AUSTRALIA BASED MEDIA ORGANISATIONS OR MOBILE PLATFORMS / AUSTRALIA NVO CLIENTS / SMH.COM .AU / NEWS.COM AU)
10. LYON WARMING UP
MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA (DECEMBER 25, 2020) (CRICKET AUSTRALIA HANDOUT - ACCESS ALL)
11. (SOUNDBITE) (English) AUSTRALIA CAPTAIN, TIM PAINE, SAYING:
REPORTER, ASKING: "Just in terms of the Sydney test. Obviously, you guys have made a huge sacrifice to go into the hub yourselves. It sounds like plenty of broadcast personnel may need to do the same and event staff to get the Sydney test up and running. Would you like to see them make, I suppose, a similar sacrifice to the ones you've made to ensure that the Sydney test can proceed as planned?
"Yes, I think so if that's what it takes to get the Sydney test up and going and again, whilst it's not ideal I think it's a small sacrifice for everyone to make and I know the boys would certainly be excited to have another few people into the hub to talk to. I think we're getting sick of each other. So, if we can get a few more people we can chat to I think it would be good fun but yes look that's a decision that they'll have to make and as I've said before the hub life isn't that bad. It's not like we're in jail. It's still a pretty good way of living so I don't think any of us can complain."
MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA (DECEMBER 24, 2020) (AUSTRALIAN BROADCASTING CORPORATION - Broadcasters: NO USE AUSTRALIA Digital: NO USE AUSTRALIA .COM.AU INTERNET SITES / ANY INTERNET SITE OF ANY AUSTRALIA BASED MEDIA ORGANISATIONS OR MOBILE PLATFORMS / AUSTRALIA NVO CLIENTS / SMH.COM .AU / NEWS.COM AU)
12. VARIOUS OF PLAYERS IN NETS
MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA (DECEMBER 25, 2020) (BCCI HANDOUT - ACCESS ALL)
13. (SOUNDBITE) (English) INDIA CAPTAIN, AJINKYA RAHANE, SAYING:
"We're going to announce the team really soon so you'll have to wait for that. See, each and every individual in this team is really capable to do well. So, it's a real challenge for a captain and management to select an 11 but we're going to announce our team 11 very soon."
14. WHITE FLASH
15. (SOUNDBITE) (English) INDIA CAPTAIN, AJINKYA RAHANE, SAYING:
"We are really capable of doing really well and as a team I believe that yes we had one bad session but we're playing some good cricket as a bowling unit but also as a batting unit - the first innings (in the Adelaide test) we batted well. So, it's all about having that belief in ourselves. Personally, yes, I stay really clam and cool but my batting is generally aggressive, I back my instincts. So, it's all about playing as a team from tomorrow and just give our best."
16. WHITE FLASH
17. (SOUNDBITE) (English) INDIA CAPTAIN, AJINKYA RAHANE, RESPONDING TO QUESTION ABOUT WHETHER INDIA WILL CHANGE ANYTHING FOLLOWING THE FIRST TEST DEFEAT, SAYING:
"Nothing really special. We've got to back our basics, back our plans. As I said earlier that we just had one bad hour so it's all about staying positive, backing your own ability and batting in partnerships. As a batting unit that really matters a lot; communication and batting in partnerships. So, we're just focusing on that."
18. WHITE FLASH
19. (SOUNDBITE) (English) INDIA CAPTAIN, AJINKYA RAHANE, SAYING:
"I felt that backing your instincts as a captain, remaining calm under pressure and yes I think just back your own strength and back your own methods, which I really focus on. So, I learnt a lot during that test match (as captain in a test victory against Australia in 2017) and no I generally stand at gully, even as a captain, so you will actually see me standing at gully tomorrow."
20. WHITE FLASH
21. (SOUNDBITE) (English) INDIA CAPTAIN, AJINKYA RAHANE, SAYING:
"See, firstly it's a proud moment for me to leading India. Obviously, it's a great opportunity, responsibility as well. I don't want to take any pressure. I think what I want to do is obviously back my team mates, back my team. And as a team we want to do well. So, focus is not on me, it's all about team and how we want to do well as a team in Australia. We're focusing on that."
22. WHITE FLASH
23. (SOUNDBITE) (English) INDIA CAPTAIN, AJINKYA RAHANE, RESPONDING TO QUESTION AS TO WHETHER HE'S BEEN SPEAKING WITH VIRAT KOHLI, SAYING:
"We met with Virat before he left Adelaide. We had a team dinner and we discussed about how to go about it. He spoke to all the boys and said just be yourselves and play your game as a team. Play as a team and it's all about I think... I don't want to disturb him now because obviously this time is really special and I just want to wish him well - him and his family - I don't want to disturb him right now."
STORY: India made four changes in their bid to bounce back from their shellacking in Adelaide but they face an uphill battle as Australia captain Tim Paine wants the hosts to continue their ruthless streak in the second test in Melbourne from Saturday (December 26).
The tourists were shot out for a record low innings total of 36 in Adelaide where Australia triumphed inside three days to go 1-0 up in the four-test series.
A combination of poor form, injury and regular skipper Virat Kohli's paternity leave forced the changes, which would see top order batsman Shubman Gill and quick Mohammed Siraj making their debut in the Boxing Day test.
Fit-again all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja and wicketkeeper Rishabh Pant returned to the side to be led by Ajinkya Rahane in Kohli's absence.
Out-of-form opener Prithvi Shaw and stumper Wriddhiman Saha were dropped while Siraj owes his inclusion to the hand injury Mohammed Shami suffered while batting in Adelaide.
Earlier on Friday (December 25), Rahane's Australia counterpart Paine said even without Kohli and others, the wounded tourists were more than capable of reversing their fortunes.
Paine's side are likely to be unchanged for the clash, with coach Justin Langer virtually confirming as much on Thursday (December 24).
The match will also be played amongst the shadow of the coronavirus pandemic, with the fate of the third test in Sydney still up in the air because of a fresh outbreak in the city's northern beaches causing a lockdown and border closures.
The Melbourne test also normally attracts large crowds but COVID-19 restrictions have limited the crowd to 30,000.
Meanwhile, for Rahane he's determined to be his own man as he takes charge of India for the three remaining test matches.
Rahane's composure is in stark contrast to Kohli's animated presence but the middle-order batsman drew inspiration from his experience of leading India to a test victory against Australia in a 2017 test.
In Kohli's absence, Rahane faces an unenviable task against a buoyant Australia side seeking to avenge their first ever test series loss to India two years ago.
Rahane, who also led India to victory in Afghanistan's debut test in 2018, said his composure should not be mistaken for lack of aggression.
Asked if Kohli had any parting message for the team, Rahane said, "We had a team dinner in Adelaide, and he spoke to all of us - about being positive, just playing to our strengths and playing as a unit."
Compared to Kohli's hands-on captaincy, Rahane's leadership is more democratic and the Mumbai player confirmed he would not station himself at mid-off and spoon-feed his bowlers.
(Production: Tim Hart)
