3 changes from the approach in England which can help India to conquer Australia in Tests

The way the Indian team was beaten comprehensively in the Test series against England, it seems a distant dream to win the Australian series. Having said this, it won't take a humongous effort to beat the current Australian team, which, by any stretch of the imagination, is not great.

In fact, if the Indian team play to their true potential, they should be able to beat Australia with a handsome margin. It is a golden opportunity for them to beat Australia for the first time in their own backyard and get their name etched in the history books.

Let us see what India should do to make sure that they realise a long drawn dream to win a Test series in Australia:

---

#1 Bat with discipline

Kohli and Pujara: The lynchpin of Indian batting

Throughout the Test series against England, the Indian bowlers were doing a great job. However, batsmen were not able to give them a decent total to work with.

In fact, if Indian batsmen can put up a decent score on the board, the bowlers are more than capable to keep India in the hunt as they showed during the last two overseas series.

To score big, the Indian top order needs to bat around one player, who can be either Kohli or Pujara or maybe even Rahane. Indian top order gave away too many wickets while playing away from the body in England.

The top order would need to play close to the body which will make Australian bowlers bowl close to the stumps and give them the opportunity to score. During the English series, they allowed English bowlers to pepper the fourth stump line hunting for an edge.

If Indian top order can weather the initial storm, it won't be too difficult to score around 400 or 450, which will set the game up nicely for the Indian bowlers.

#2 Right team selection

Bhuvneshwar should be an automatic pick

Indian team selection during the English series was grossly wrong. Kuldeep Yadav played in Lord's under overcast conditions and ended up bowling just 9 overs in the match while skiddy Umesh Yadav, who could have been really handy on a seaming wicket, was made to sit out.

Also, Ashwin played a Test match despite an injury which cost India dearly in the context of the series. India should avoid these selection blunders during the Australian series.

Since Indian batting is not clicking as a unit, it won't be a bad ploy to play seven batsmen as it will give an extra cushion to the lower middle order.

Ishant, Shami, Bhuvneshwar and Ashwin could be four bowlers while Pandya's place could be filled up by an extra batsman. India can go back to Vijay for first few Tests given the kind of success he had in Australia in the previous tour.

#3 Persist with Rishabh Pant

Pant has an ideal game for Australian pitches

Rishabh Pant made the world take notice of his batting talent with an attacking hundred against England in the fifth and final Test of the series.

Pant is an attacking batsman who can take the game away from the opposition in a matter of few hours. Also, he is a left-hander which will make Australian bowlers adjust their line. His wicket-keeping is still a work-in-progress, but, the other option that India has in Parthiv Patel is also not known for his skills behind the stumps.

Australian pitches are conducive to stroke play which will allow Pant to play an attacking brand of cricket he is known for, and that will eventually allow India to put up a better batting performance in the lower middle order.

The lower order batting proved to be the difference between India and England during the English series which indicates the importance of lower middle order batting.