Aus batting coach Hick says patience needed for success in India

Graeme Hick, the newly appointed batting coach of Australia, believes patience will be key for Australia's batsmen to ensure success in their tour of India eary next year.

Graeme Hick expressed confidence on Australia to bounce back from the whitewash against Sri Lanka by putting up a good show in India.

Australia's new batting coach Graeme Hick has called on Australia's batsmen to 'show more patience' and adaptability in their tour of India early next year.

“First it’s about adapting to their conditions. At times, may be the Australian way is to dominate and in Test cricket, the run rates increase a lot. May be India is a place where we need a little bit more patience like teams that have been there successful recently. Let's not forget it's one of the toughest challenges in cricket,” Hick told ESPNcricinfo .

Hick, whose career-best Test score of 178 came against India during his team England's 0-3 defeat in the subcontinent in 1993, knows a thing or two about playing on dustbowls. “Teams that have been successful have had guys who have got big runs upfront. May be a couple of good sessions is not enough. One has to post big first innings score and one has to take that responsibility, if you get in. That may require a little bit more patience than some of the players will normally show,” said Hick.

Hick said Australian players are ready to put up a better show than their horrifying Sri Lankan Test series where they were outplayed.“Exciting part, we have not won there (India) for quite a while. I spoke to a couple of players briefly at meeting. They are certainly up for the challenge. Definitely (they will) give a better account of ourselves than Sri Lanka Test series,” he said.

Self belief crucial

It is imperative, Hick felt, that players believe that they can be successful in the subcontinent.

“The mental side of it is huge. You need self belief. The top players will sort it out for themseleves. How they need to change and what they need to do in the subcontinent. The mental processes, pre-match batting plans, biggest thing will be the belief that they can be successful and coming up with a plan and be successful,” he signed off.