Australian fast bowler Josh Hazlewood says India’s top-secret training camp is water off a duck’s back for his side because they have seen it all before.
As many as six positions in India’s side in The West Test from Friday could still be up in the air and the tourists had their guard up for their opening days in Perth last week.
India will hold their first official press event of their tour, which is already a week-and-a-half long, on Wednesday.
But Hazlewood said the Indian camp banning phone and putting up black tarps has not crossed their mind.
“Nah, you roll up regardless, I don’t think there’s anything we haven’t seen in Test cricket before,” he said.
“It’s going to come down to bowling in that area and batting with patience and try and outlast them.
“I guess there are no real secrets behind those closed doors of the injury sessions, we have seen a lot of them, we play with them all the time, we play against them.
“There’s no real secrets in international cricket these days.”
Rohit Sharma, Mohammed Shami and Shubman Gill have all been ruled out, while KL Rahul looks likely to overcome injury in time to play. Mystery still surrounds India’s top six and whether or not they will pick two spinners.
“There are a few unknowns there, so we had to go through a few options in the bowling meeting and we’ll find out on Friday who’s playing,” Hazlewood said.
Asked about India snubbing Cheteshwar Pujara for the series amid a top-order shake-up, Hazlewood said: “I am pretty happy Puj isn’t here”.
Australia’s full contingent trained at Optus Stadium on Wednesday, including all four of its big quicks.
Mitch Marsh, whose overs as the sole all-rounder will be crucial, was up to full speed in a net session where all the top-order batters also faced the quicks.
Marnus Labuschagne bowled a long spell to the middle-order, including Inglis, Alex Carey and his batting doppelganger Nathan McSweeney.
The Queenslander’s persistence with medium-pace, rather than his more customary leg-spin, means he is firming to bowl seam-up in the first game of the season.
That move would come amid some cloud over Marsh’s bowling loads, with the premier all-rounder yet to bowl a ball in first-class cricket this summer.
Labuschagne worked on firing in bouncers during Wednesday’s session in a hint Pat Cummins could turn to him for a short-ball assault.
Hazlewood said the batter is a genuine option with the ball, but joked he won’t be seeing it until late in the innings.
“Yeah absolutely. He’s keen, that’s one good thing,” he said.
“He’s keen to bowl some bouncers, bowl length, whatever’s needed, he’ll grab it.
“I think the ball had a bit too much writing on it (at training) for what he’s going to see in a game … but he’s keen, which is the most important thing.”
Hazlewood also clapped back at claims from the Indian camp the hosts’ top-order could be vulnerable.
“I’ve bowled to them for the past few days, the past few years now and they are pretty good players with pretty good records,” he said.
“I know they’ll find away on whatever wicket, whatever conditions get thrown up.”
West Australian Josh Inglis kicked a soccer ball around and faced throw-downs on his first day in the Test camp after captaining the side that wrapped up a three-match T20 international series on Monday night.
Content Source: www.perthnow.com.au