Vijay set to play a key role in Indian summer
OPENER Murali Vijay has declared he has no fear of Australian conditions as he looks set to play a key role in India’s bid to finally break their Test series hoodoo Down Under.
Vijay is tipped to start at the top of the order in place of the injured Prithvi Shaw in the first Test in Adelaide starting on Thursday, after all but ensuring his recall with a blister- ing century in India’s tour match against a Cricket Australia XI.
The right-hander was dropped after this year’s second Test against England at Lord’s after going for a pair, with Jimmy Anderson removing him on both occasions.
And while the loss of teen sensation Shaw is a big blow for the tourists, Vijay was brimming with confidence after stroking 21 boundaries, including five sixes, in a 132ball 129 at the SCG on Saturday.
Importantly, he also got valuable time at the crease with potential opening partner KL Rahul (62).
“Rahul is a guy who comes from the same region as mine, so we understand each other really well,” Vijay said.
India are searching for their first ever Test series win on Australian soil. Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Bangladesh are the other tier-one nations waiting to break their duck.
Although the Indians have never travelled well down under, the 34-year-old bucks the trend of his teammates and is a proven performer in Australia. He averages 60.25 in Australia compared with his Test average of 39.33 from a 59-cap career of 3933 runs and 12 centuries.
In his four Tests here, all of which came in the 2014-15 summer, he piled on 482 runs in eight innings, including 144 at the Gabba plus four halfcenturies highlighted by a 99 in Adelaide.
Asked about his love affair with Australia, Vijay said: “It suits me because I’m a batsman who likes to play off the back foot.
“Australia is one place where you get the bounce so you can play shots.”