Australia eyeing a series win on Indian soil after 2004
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Lehmann says Australia needs to score big runs in India. Image Source: twitter[/caption]Internet Desk: Australia’s head coach Darren Lehmann claims he knows what needs to be done from their part, to reverse their result during Test tour to India.
He was a part of the 13 men squad, who won a Test series beating India in their own soil during the past 47 years.
Lehmann has a fair idea about the top-ranked Test team India’s current form in all three formats of the game at home. Kohli’s men have only suffered one series loss in last 12 years.
The Aussies have lost their last nine-Test on a trot in the sub-continent.
Lehmann didn't attempt to accept the challenge presented by the four-Test series against India which resumes in Pune on February 23.
"Everything's going to have to go right, that's a simple fact of life," Lehmann said, reflecting on the breakthrough 2-1 series win in 2004 which he played in.
"You've got to be really methodical, well prepared. Which they will be.
"We have to hold every catch, we fielded unbelievably (in 2004).
"And we batted big, that's the key ... you got to put pressure on them."
Lehmann is pinpointing that they have to post a good total on board to put pressure on well balanced Indian batting in the Test series.
Lehmann expects finding a way to consistently conjure the monster totals he craves will be the hardest part.
"We're not fearing getting the 20 wickets, we've just got to put enough scoreboard pressure on them," he said.
"We're going to have to pick up certain areas ... playing a world-class side like India is going to be tough."
And how.
Australia haven't won a Test in India since 2004.
They lost by 3-0 to Sri Lanka last year. Most of the Aussie batsmen failed to score with the bat and Mitchell Starc and Shaun Marsh were the only players, who had done well in the series.
Lankan Spinner Rangana Herath made all the damages to the visitors, despite the fact that Cricket Australia hired local legend Muttiah Muralitharan as a consultant coach.
The left-arm spinner finished with 28 wickets at 12.75.
Now the duo of Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja, the best and second best bowler in the world according to the ICC rankings, are poised to create problems for the visitors.
Steve Smith's squad has already been studying video analysis of India's star bowlers and their imposing list of batsmen, headed by fiery skipper Virat Kohli.
"They've been doing that for a while. The lads are pretty good with that sort of stuff now, they've had that on file now for probably two or three months," Lehmann said.
"We just have to play pressure cricket for five days.
"Any away tour is really tough for us, subcontinent tours are the frontier if you like.
"It (winning) would mean a hell of a lot to a young group."
It remains a new-look side following the mid-summer overhaul of the Australian team, with selectors' major conundrum being who claims the vacant No.6 spot in the order.
But nine players, along with Smith and deputy David Warner, are returning for their second Test tour of India.
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