Justin Langer says they’re heavy, but keep them in perspective.
As consecutive Test losses in India rattle Australian cricket, Langer has called for context.
“These are big losses,” Langer told AAP on Wednesday.
“But it’s the hardest place in the world to play cricket. That’s why we have won one series there in almost 50 years.”
Forty-three years to be precise. By the end of this series, Australia will have one win from the nine most recent Test series in India.
Langer, Australia’s batting coach until last November when he resigned to coach Western Australia, said the defeats would be sapping for Australia’s failing batsmen.
“It takes your energy away, being over there when you’re not making runs,” said 105-Test veteran Langer.
“You know every time you walk out, there’s men around the bat.
“But what I do also know is if you can get through the first 20 minutes, it goes from one of the hardest places in the world (to bat) to one of the easiest places in the world … the outfields are quick and you get used to the spin.”
While Langer implored batsmen to trust their strategy against India’s tweakers, spin was somewhat of a dirty word for another Australian cricket stalwart, Darren Berry.
South Australian coach Berry was bewildered by the treatment of Nathan Lyon, the Redbacks’ offspinner dumped from the Test team after taking four wickets in the first Test.
“They played two spin bowlers in the last Test match and, in my opinion, the best spin bowler didn’t play in the game. I found that difficult to fathom,” Berry said on Wednesday.
“They were building him up for India.
“And after one Test match where he got some big wickets, albeit he went for some tap, I was quite shocked and disappointed that Nathan wasn’t persevered with.”
Langer pointed to the inexperience of Lyon (20 Tests) and his replacements Xavier Doherty (three Tests) and Glenn Maxwell, who made his debut in the second Test.
“They are up against nimble spin bowling bullies,” Langer said.
He also highlighted that Australia’s batting top three – lefthanders David Warner, Ed Cowan and Phil Hughes – were all playing their initial Test series in India.
“As lefthanders facing offspinners in India, there’s no greater challenge. It’s the real cauldron,” said Langer, another lefty.
Langer himself struggled early in his Test career against spin bowlers. His initial tour of Sri Lanka returned an average of 12.75, then ex-captain Allan Border told him to employ the sweep shot.
“It takes courage to play it, you have got to hit across the spin often,” he said.
“You have got have a strategy to put the pressure back on the bowler.
“If you’re looking to survive, you’re dead.”