Australian assistant coach Daniel Vettori said he does not mind the spin-friendly pitches on offer in their series in India as they have challenged the batsmen and brought their skill and perseverance into play.

India thumped Australia in Nagpur and New Delhi to grab a 2-0 lead in the four-Test series with their spinners ruling the roost in both matches, before Australia flipped the script in Indore to seal a nine-wicket win last week.

“I don’t mind the surfaces because I feel it’s the same for everyone,” New Zealander Vettori, who is Australia’s assistant coach in the series, said. “It doesn’t feel like the toss is the key ingredient... you almost know what to expect.

India captain Rohit Sharma inspecting the pitch before the third Test in Indore, which the hosts lost by 9 wickets within three days. PTI photo

“You turn up and you can see that it’s going to be this type of wicket and you can prepare for it. I think that allows some skill to come into it, some perseverance and some fortitude around the things that you have to do.

“The batting group, hearing them talk, has started to bind to that as well. A score of 30 could be a great day. It’s how you get that 30 that makes such a difference. The challenge is in accepting it more than anything. That’s easier said than done.”

Australia’s Nathan Lyon claimed 11 of the 20 wickets in Indore and has been well backed in the series by the likes of newcomers Matt Kuhnemann and Todd Murphy.

Vettori said he was delighted with the duo’s consistency. “That’s the main challenge on these surfaces,” Vettori said. “The expectation is so high that you’re going to do well and you are going to take a wicket every ball.

“I think the guys who do it consistently, there are quite a number of them on show in this series from both teams... they don’t wilt to the pressure. They understand their process and they repeat, repeat and repeat.”

He was all praise for Murphy. “Todd has that skill that he can be a defensive bowler and he can be an attacking bowler and work around pretty much whatever is required from him in the game. For such a young and inexperienced spinner... to be able to come here and handle these tough situations and perform the role that’s required has been impressive,” Vettori said.

“Steve Smith singled him (Murphy) out around his performances in the last Test. Obviously, Nathan and Matt got all the wickets but... his spell allowed everyone around him to take those wickets. And I think that probably embodies it, that series of balls that he’s bowled to Kohli.”

Written with Reuters inputs

Smith to lead again

Steve Smith. File picture

Ahmedabad: Steve Smith will lead Australia in the fourth and final Test against India as regular captain Pat Cummins remains with his unwell mother back home.

Smith had captained the side in Indore in Cummins’absence. Cummins had flown back home after the Delhi Test to be with his mother who is in palliative care. Cricket.com.aureported that Cummins will remain in Sydney.

Three ODIs follow the final Test and a decision on Cummins’ participation in those games will be taken later.

Smith had captained Australia to a nine-wicket win in Indore last week to secure a spot in the World Test Championship (WTC) final.

PTI