We will hammer down India in tri-series also: Aus coach

After his side's humiliation of India in the Test series, Australia coach Mickey Arthur today said that his men will ''hammer down'' the visitors in next month's ODI tri-series as well once all-rounder Shane Watson comes back into the team.

"Whether he plays in Adelaide Test or not, I'm not sure. But we want him fit for the Twenty20 and ODI tri-series and I'm pretty sure we're going to have him and that's where he'll hammer India down," said Arthur after his side clinched the four-match Test series 3-0 at the WACA here.

The tri-series, which will also involve Sri Lanka, starts on February 5 with a match between India and Australia at Melbourne Cricket Ground.

Watson has played 10 ODIs against India and scored 410 runs at an avegage of 41.00. He has also claimed 12 wickets with his medium-fast bowling at 25.42 average. Importantly, he has yet to meet India in an ODI in Australia.

Arthur expressed surprise at India's tame capitulation in the Test series and believed that time has come for the visitors to identify some youngsters and bring them in the team in place of senior players.

"I never once thought it was going to be like this. You (India) need to identify some young players. You need to find ways to get those players into the system, to try to get them into the side and to give them opportunities," said Arthur.

Aurthur said that India can still fight back in Adelaide but someone needs to stand up and deliver against his side.

"I do think they can (stage a fightback). What they need is a catalyst. They need someone to stand up and say, 'I'm going to lead the way and take the fight to Australia. Viru (Virender Sehwag) can do that at any time. Gautam (Gambhir) has shown sings of form. Sachin (Tendulkar) has been in outstanding nick. Zaher Khan can do that with the ball. India are still a very, very good cicket team," he said.
"They've just got to get some confidence. They still are a team that we'll never ever take lightly."Arthur gave credit to his players for executing his plans against Indian batsmen in the Test series.

"I brought a slight dimensional change in terms of our tactics against some of the Indian batsmen. I did have the prior knowledge of where the team was at. But our players deserve all the accolades. The only way you can put India under pressure is by executing your plans," he said.

The Australia coach gave enough hints that his side will play three pacers and one spinner in Adelaide and that off-spinner Nathan Lyon will be in the playing eleven.
"All indications in Adelaide you are going to play a spinner. There's no doubt about that. The stars have aligned for us all series except in number three position," he said.

He also hinted that Shaun Marsh, struggling after recovering from an inuury, may still play in Adelaide.

"If Shaun (Marsh) gets the opportunity, I'm sure he'll go out there and perform well. I saw signs of him coming back. I saw signs of his movements being a lot crisper. He looked really good at a point in his innings. I am hoping he gets through it and gets a score," said Aurthur.

"Once he gets on a roll, he's hard to bowl at. Hopefully, Adelaide is the catalyst for him and he can take that into the Twenty20s and ODIs. We just thought he was tentative in first two Tests. Once you are injured, you start doubting your ability. You just need a score and he hasn't got that yet."

Arthur was all praise for David Warner and said the dashing opener would captain an Australian team at some stage.

"We worked hard with Davey Warner -- JL (batting coach Justin Langer) and myself. But Davey needs to take the credit because he's the guy who actually asked for more and more.

"Davey has leadership potential. He has the ability to lead any Australian team in any form of the game at some stage. Whether that's in next couple of weeks or in a year or five years' time, I'm not sure," said Arthur.

"He has a good cricket brain, leads by example. He trains the hosue down. The perceptions everybody has of him and reality of David the person are poles apart."