India vs Australia second Test: A few tweaks on Saturday, we can get back in the game, says Ryan ten Doeschate

India's assistant coach optimistic about team's chances in second Test against Australia, analyzing key areas for improvement.

Ryan ten Doeschate felt that India can turn the tide in the second Test. “I know that the scores look like there is a big gap between the two teams but we still feel we are in the game and with a few tweaks tomorrow (Saturday, December 7, 2024), we can get back in the game,” India’s assistant coach told the media at the Adelaide Oval on Friday (December 6, 2024) night.

He mentioned that things happen a bit faster with the pink ball: “It is the nature of the pink ball. Things happen in clumps, we lost wickets in clumps, which we wanted to avoid. I also thought that Mitchell’s (Starc) stock ball was very good and there are lessons to be learnt from that first innings. We will look at how we can play better in the second innings.”

Drawing inspiration from the Perth Test, ten Doeschate said: “At Perth we got bowled out for 150 and still we got back into that game. This is a proud team and the players want to come here and do well. We may be slightly behind in the game now but there won’t be any surrendering.”

Explaining that perhaps the Indian seamers could have bowled a bit fuller, ten Doeschate also gave credit to the way Australia batted: “They left very well. We feel that the kind of swing and seam is a little bit inconsistent which makes it tough for both parties.”

The assistant coach also lauded Nitish Kumar: “We are pleased with him. He is a young kid, and a little bit of work has to be done. But the way he played at Perth and out here, these are knocks of good quality.” And about picking R. Ashwin, ten Doeschate said: “We felt that on this surface he will be more suited.”