… Aussies get ready to counter ‘spinister’ plan

The top three Test batsmen played only a handful of One-day domestic Cup games this month but instead of being concerned about a lack of match conditioning, Hayden and Langer were thankful for the rest.

Hayden has asked the curator at Brisbane’s Allan Border field to roll him a flat, turning wicket and a variety of promising spinners will bowl at him in the next fortnight.

The Australian team is due to leave for India in two weeks.

“You’re never going to be able to replicate an Indian pitch exactly but you’ve got to give it your best shot,†said Hayden today.

“I haven’t had a great deal of cricket lately but I think in some ways it’s been a blessing in disguise.

“We played a great amount of cricket in a short time in the Test series and it was intense and by the end of it, we were bloody tired. So I think it’s been good to get away and freshen up, have a break.â€

The ability of Hayden, Slater and Langer to combat the Indian spinners early in the Australian innings will be a key aspect of the three-Test series.

Langer, after a superb 12 months, was below his best against the Windies.

“I’ve played so much cricket in the last four years, playing in England every off-season, that I’ve probably had one week’s break in all that time,†Langer said.“I don’t think the quantity of cricket is that important, it’s been good to lead a reasonably normal existence for most of the month.

“It’s been a blessing in disguise, I’ve been able to work on the basics of my game and spend time with my wife and kids.â€

Australia’s 15-Test winning streak will come under serious threat in India, where Australia have not won a series since 1969-70 when Bill Lawry was captain.“It’s the challenge the Australian team is craving at the moment,†said langer.“New conditions, different players, it’s a whole different ball game for us.â€