Chandigarh, Sep 23 :The vice-captain of the Australian team Michael Clarke feels that combating India's pace spearhead Zaheer Khan and off-spinner Harbhajan Singh will be a tough ask but they are up for it.
"Zaheer Khan is a wonderful bowler with the new ball and he can reverse it with the old ball. Harbhajan Singh too has had a lot of success in Test cricket, against Australia in particular. Both are probably two of India's best bowlers who have had the experience of playing a lot against Australia," Clarke stated during a group interaction with the media at the team hotel here on Thursday .
"We have to come up with a plan to combat these two," Clarke said. The visitors will play against the Board President's XI in their tour opener at the Sector-16 stadium, in Chandigarh, from Saturday.
All-rounder Shane Watson, who was also present during the group interaction also praised the Zaheer-Harbhajan duo. He said, "It is always the hardest thing facing the new ball that swings. It had a huge impact on (an earlier) series (with India)." "Harbhajan is a brilliant exponent of spin bowling," Watson said.
Clarke, who has scored 4514 runs from 62 Tests at an average of 50.71, admitted that it was always a challenge to play against India on their home soil and more so when the visitors had a few inexperienced players in the squad. "We know it's going to be a tough challenge. India is a strong team, but if we can play our best cricket, we can beat them in the series," Clarke said.
However, it is the heavy rains that has robbed the Aussies from some serious match practice and has been bothering their coach Tim Nielsen.
"Sun came out after massive rain last night..120mm o'night! Got in to the nets even if only indoors but boys blew off some steam..good to go!" Nielsen wrote on his twitter page. The Australian coach also praised the Indian media after the group interaction with the Indian media. "Open media session this afternoon..plenty of cameras and the boys enjoyed talking to Indian media..went really well .PTI
