Aus missed Smith, Warner: Paine

It seems we’ve rolled up some wickets that have taken away from our strengths, which is pace and bounce. You’d like the slips to come into play. TIM PAINE, On pitches provided for series

MELBOURNE: After being outplayed by India in the fourth Test at Melbourne to concede a series lead for the second time, Australia skipper Tim Paine admitted his batsmen failed to cope with India’s high quality bowling attack in the absence of banned Steve Smith and David Warner.

“It is inexperience. It is pressure. India’s bowling attack being probably as good as probably most of these guys have ever faced. It is pretty clear, if you take two or three of the best players out of anyone’s lineup in the world, you’re going to struggle a little bit at times and have inconsistent performances. That’s what we are seeing,” Paine said.

“In Perth, on a really tough wicket, our top six dug in and had a real crack. In this game, no doubt we were a little bit disappointing. That’s going to happen from time to time. We have to make sure we’re improving and our good and our bad is a little bit closer together than what it has been in the last couple of Tests. But I think it’s pretty common when you’ve got inexperienced players in your top six against high quality bowling.”

Paine said India had two world-class batsmen in Cheteshwar Pujara and Virat Kohli who anchored the innings to a 400plus score, while Australia missed Smith and Warner.

“If you took Pujara and Virat out of India’s side you would have the same conversation. If you have got world-class players that are not in your team, are they going to add to our team? I think they will. So while at the moment it’s challenging and everyone’s frustrated, it is what it is and everyone is working hard and we’re getting guys who are getting experience of highpressure situations in Tests.”

UN-AUSSIE PITCHES

Paine also expressed frustration over pitches that have been provided for the ongoing series.

“That’s been the one disappointing thing,” Paine said. “It seems we’ve rolled up some wickets here in Australia that have taken away from our strengths, which is pace and bounce. You’d like the slips to come into play eventually.

“You never go to India and get served up green wickets. And they’ve come out here and we’ve served some wickets up that have really suited them.”