Australia cannot play well in India: Ishant

Ishant Sharma was part of the squad which lost 0-4 to Australia in 2011-12.

New Delhi - India fast bowler Ishant Sharma said on Thursday that home conditions have played a big role in the ongoing four-Test series and it has proved once again that Australia lack the technique to play in the sub-continent conditions.

Sharma, who was part of the side that was thrashed 0-4 in the last tour to Australia, said India were criticised for not being able to perform well in alien conditions and now Australia are also suffering away from home.

“When we went to Australia, we struggled a lot and everybody said we can’t play away from home and now you can see that even Australia can’t play here. So, the advantage of home conditions is quite big. Our home conditions suit spinners and Australia is weak against the spinners, so that has been a big advantage for us,” said Ishant on the eve of the fourth Test at the Feroz Shah Kotla.

As India are staring at a 4-0 whitewash of Australia, Ishant said the boys are determined to reclaim the No.1 spot in Tests again.

“Sometimes you play well and you win, but sometimes you play well and yet you don’t end up winning. I think it is important to give your 100 percent and not worry about results. We always try to improve as a team and our goal is to become No.1 team in the world again and if we work towards our goals then we will definitely become the top team again,” he said.

Asked about the possible playing eleven, Ishant said: “We haven’t been told as to who will make his debut in this match. We have a team meeting in the evening after which only we will know the playing eleven.”

Ishant said the team is riding high on confidence after three consecutive wins by huge margins against Australia.

“The mood in the camp is good and the confidence of all the players is quite good because we are leading 3-0 against a team like Australia. We have won the matches by a big margin, so the confidence of the team is high and we will carry into the Delhi Test,” he said.

“Hopefully we can continue the form and play the way we have been doing in the last three Test matches.”

On the possible absence of Michael Clarke, Ishant said: “I think the Australian team will need to handle the issues related to their team as to what they think or what affects their team. So we only focus on what we have to do and not about things which is not in our hands.”

Ishant said his role is the side is that of a defensive bowler.

“When you play in India, your role is different. Your role is to contain the flow of runs so that the spinners can attack from the other end. You got to hunt in a pack and bowl in partnerships like how you bat in partnerships, similarly you have in bowling,” he said.

Ishant was all praise for his new pace partner Bhuvneshwar Kumar.

“I feel Bhuvi’s bowling is different to mine. Bhuvi is more effective with the new ball because he can swing it both ways. I don’t get much swing in Indian conditions and I have to wait for the ball to get a bit old so that it reverse swings and only after that I can attack but till then my role is to contain,” he said.