Sehwag realises patience is key against Australian quicks

Irish Sun (IANS) Monday 23rd January, 2012

India's destructive opening batsman Virender Sehwag has finally realised that he has to show patience against Australia as the visitors gear up to play for pride in the fourth and the final cricket Test at the Adelaide Oval starting Tuesday.

Sehwag will be leading the side in the absence of Mahendra Singh Dhoni, who will sit out with a one-match ban for the team's slow over rate in the Perth Test.

Having already lost the series 0-3, India have only pride to play for at Adelaide Oval, where they have been undefeated in the last 10 years. Australia have also managed to win just once in the last four Tests at the Adelaide.

Sehwag, who has had a poor run in the series so far, said the Australian bowling attack is one of the best he has ever seen and added that patience will be key in handling them.

"This is the best bowling attack I have seen, especially Australia. They are not giving easy balls to hit boundaries, they are playing with your patience," said Sehwag after a practice session here Monday.

"I think I have to show some patience. If I show patience, I will get some balls to hit for boundaries. It's a challenge, it's a great bowling attack and everyone is looking forward to do well against them. I am looking forward to do well for whenever you do well against Australia, everyone praises and appreciates your performance," he said.

Sehwag was forthright in admitting that Indian batsmen had failed miserably in the tours to England the current one in Australia.

"It's not only the opening. All the batsmen didn't score runs. When you go abroad and score 300-400 runs, your bowlers come in the game and try to get the other team out. It's everyone's responsibility to score runs, especially outside India. Unfortunately, on the last two tours, the batsmen didn't score runs.

"Yes, it's important for openers to give good start but sometimes they don't. It's the responsibility of others batsmen to go and score. As a batting unit, we haven't done well. Hopefully, we would do it here," he said.

Sehwag also said that he would drop back to the middle order once there is a vacancy in the future.

"Not (in the middle order) in this game. We have a very good middle order. It's only when they retire, then I would think about it. It also depends on what's the combination and who's the captain and who's going to retire. That's also important," he said.

Sehwag defended out of form V.V.S. Laxman saying the veteran middle-order batsman is concentrating hard on his game.

"It's their decision. They would take the call. Nobody is discussing it in the dressing room. As for VVS Laxman, he's looking forward to it, he's up for it. He's concentrating hard, practising hard and also extra (nets).

"I am sure the player that he is, he would perform well in Adelaide. Australia is his favourite team and he has scored a lot of hundreds against them. I am sure he would do well."

Asked if captaincy brings extra pressure with it, Sehwag said: "I have been captain of India on a couple of occasions. It's good to be captain of Team India and it's a real honour. I don't think there is any pressure of captaincy. Against the West Indies recently, I captained and scored a double hundred."

Sehwag said he would like to bat first if he wins the toss.

"Everyone wants to bat first here. But stats show whoever bats second wins the Test. Still, I am looking to bat first. If it's dry enough and we feel there is help for spinners, definitely we would go in with two spinners," he said.