Cheteshwar Pujara takes advice from Rahul Dravid ahead of Australia Tests
With India’s Test series against Australia starting in Brisbane next week, the incumbent No.3 Cheteshwar Pujara has been taking tips from batting great Rahul Dravid on how to succeed on Australian soil.
While Pujara has had a fantastic start to his Test career, having scored 1,872 runs from 24 Tests at an average just below 50, the recent series against England where he managed just 222 runs from 5 Tests at an average of 22.20 with a highest score of 55 was a huge disappointment.
"I have spoken to Rahul Dravid about the conditions in Australia. Someone of his caliber and experience will always point out those minor issues, which otherwise may get missed. His approach towards the game is exemplary," Pujara said.
Although the 26-year old’s issues in England would have led to doubts creeping into his mind about his own ability, he shouldn’t be overly worried considering that he has scored runs away from home in the past. On the tour of South Africa last year, he amassed 280 runs from 2 Tests at an average of 70, including a highest score of 153 at Johannesburg.
Leading up to the Australian tour, which will be Pujara’s first ever to the country, he has said that he is focusing on keeping things simple rather than worry about the menace of Mitchell Johnson & co.
"I want to keep things simple and concentrate on what I need to do to score runs rather than think about the opposition's bowlers. Overall as a batsman, I need to be sure of which areas I can score runs and which deliveries I need to leave alone. That is going to be my focus instead of the bowler I am facing," he said.
The Saurashtra batsman also added that the experience he has gained of playing in tough overseas conditions over the past 12 months will serve him well during the series.
"Playing abroad is always a new challenge, the conditions are completely different to what they are in India. The experience of having played Test cricket over the last one year in places like South Africa, New Zealand and England is definitely an advantage while preparing for a tough tour like Australia. As a player, these conditions present a different challenge.
Over a period of time when you play in different countries, it allows one to work out the deficiencies that may have developed in your technique. We are reaching Australia a couple of weeks before the first Test. That should help us adjust to the conditions better."