Nielsen stays positive

Losses in the Test series and defeat in the ODI at Visakhapatnam have not dimmed Australian coach Tim Nielsen's optimism.

“We played just one game (at Vishakapatnam), made 290 and got beaten. We are not panicking at all. We haven't got the results but we have been very competitive. As you get older, like me, that's when you start getting a bit down about results. The young blokes just jump out of bed and want to play,” Nielsen said here on Friday. Nielsen said that there was no cause for concern about skipper Michael Clarke, who underwent an MRI scan on his right hand at Visakhapatnam.

“The scan was just a precautionary look at his hand that was struck by Ishant Sharma at Mohali. He batted for a long time in the first one-dayer and we just wanted to make sure that nothing was wrong,” the coach said, even as Clarke trained with his team at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium.

The coach believed that the current tour, despite its poor results, was a good learning experience for his bowling unit.

“We had Mitchell Starc and John Hastings make their debut in the Visakhapatnam game. Clint McKay has played, probably, 10 ODIs and even Steven Smith has played only a few games. So it has been an excellent experience for our bowling group. I would like to believe that we can defend 290 more often than not but what an innings from Virat Kohli!” Nielsen said.

Nielsen had words of support for off-spinner Nathan Hauritz, who bagged just six wickets while averaging 65 in the Test series and drew a blank at Visakhapatnam.

“He normally gets some assistance in Australia. It is no secret that the Indian spinners put a lot of top-spin on the ball to try and get the ball to bounce while in Australia the surfaces are harder and we try and concentrate on side-spin. It is something that Nathan had to do to adjust to these conditions. He has got two or three Sheffield Shield matches when he gets back to Australia and I am sure come the first Ashes Test, he will be ready,” Nielsen said.

The coach said that Callum Ferguson would replace Michael Hussey, who left for Australia in the lead-up to the Ashes that will commence on November 25.

“We thought that the Test matches in India and the Test matches in Australia are the top priority and we acted that way,” Nielsen said.