Reliable batsman Michael Hussey said Wednesday the inexperienced Australian side were capable of rising to the occasion in the demanding Test series soon to start in India.
"A Test series on Indian soil is considered tough. It's the toughest series, but it gives you immense satisfaction if you are able to win it," Hussey told reporters ahead of the four-match series starting in Bangalore on October 9.
Australia clinched their previous Test series in India in 2004, their first success in 35 years.
Only four members of the Australian squad -- skipper Ricky Ponting, Matthew Hayden, Michael Clarke and Simon Katich -- have played a Test in India, but Hussey warned the hosts not to underestimate the tourists.
"We definitely take a lot of things out of 2004, but the personnel are so different that we are a new team really and trying to create our own history," said the middle-order batsman, 33.
"The big strength we have is the Indians might think we are inexperienced and perhaps in Test cricket in this country we are, but the guys that have come in have played a lot of first-class cricket.
"It would be a bit of a mistake to underestimate the newer, less experienced guys. I think they are hardened cricketers and it's a case of how quickly we can adapt to the conditions."
Hussey, who has scored 2,325 runs in 25 Tests, said the experience of playing Twenty20 matches in India early this year would help him.
"I may not have played a Test here, but have played other forms of the game. I think patience will be the key. The experience will come in handy as we played on different wickets," he said.
Hussey said his team was not focusing on Indian off-spinner Harbhajan Singh alone as the hosts had an impressive bowling attack.
Harbhajan troubled Australia the most in previous home series, having grabbed 55 wickets in seven Tests.
"Not only Harbhajan, but (leg-spinner) Anil Kumble and other Indian bowlers are also good. They have a balanced attack," said Hussey.
"You have to have a clear gameplan on how to play spin. Hayden, Ponting or Clarke have their own gameplan. So will I, but you have to be clear how you are going to tackle it."
Australia arrived on Monday, a week ahead of schedule following the postponement of the Champions Trophy in Pakistan, and will train in Jaipur for a week before the official part of the tour starts.
They play a four-day practice game in Hyderabad from October 2 before the Test series. The last three Tests will be held in Mohali, New Delhi and Nagpur.
Indo-Aussie series snippets
Anil Kumble, India's Test captain, has said the batsmen must step up if India are to regain the Border-Gavaskar Trophy next month. India go into the four-Test series against Australia on the back of two poor series -- against South Africa and Sri Lanka -- but Kumble is confident that each of his players will lift his game for the high-profile contests.
"Whenever we've won at home it's the batsmen who have scored huge runs and that's the key," Kumble said on the eve of the Irani Trophy game between Delhi and Rest of India in Vadodara.
India's top six batsmen scored only three centuries among them in six Tests against South Africa and Sri Lanka. However Kumble said the series in Sri Lanka, which India lost 2-1, was a "one-off".
Australia won 2-1 when they last toured India in 2004-05 but only four members from their current squad have played Tests in the country before. "In the past every player has stepped up his game whenever we've played Australia," Kumble said. "We came close to winning in Australia and even in 2004 we lost out in Chennai on the last day due to rain.
"We have a great opportunity. They certainly lack experience in playing in India. Having said that, they are highly competitive team and are still No. 1. But we look at it as an opportunity to win the series. With the experience and skills that we have, we look to back that up with good performances to get the results."
Kumble hoped that Sachin Tendulkar, who averages 69.94 against Australia, would be fit for the series. "He is definitely a big player and he has done exceptionally well against Australia."
"Whenever we've won at home it's the batsmen who have scored huge runs and that's the key," Kumble said on the eve of the Irani Trophy game between Delhi and Rest of India in Vadodara.
India's top six batsmen scored only three centuries among them in six Tests against South Africa and Sri Lanka. However Kumble said the series in Sri Lanka, which India lost 2-1, was a "one-off".
Australia won 2-1 when they last toured India in 2004-05 but only four members from their current squad have played Tests in the country before. "In the past every player has stepped up his game whenever we've played Australia," Kumble said. "We came close to winning in Australia and even in 2004 we lost out in Chennai on the last day due to rain.
"We have a great opportunity. They certainly lack experience in playing in India. Having said that, they are highly competitive team and are still No. 1. But we look at it as an opportunity to win the series. With the experience and skills that we have, we look to back that up with good performances to get the results."
Kumble hoped that Sachin Tendulkar, who averages 69.94 against Australia, would be fit for the series. "He is definitely a big player and he has done exceptionally well against Australia."
Sachin pulls out of Irani Trophy
Sachin Tendulkar has pulled out of the Irani Trophy to recover from his elbow injury ahead of the Test series against Australia starting October 9.
"Tendulkar is not playing the Irani Trophy because he has been advised a week of rehabilitation," Ratnakar Shetty, the BCCI's chief administrative officer, told Cricinfo. "Paul Close [the National Cricket Academy's physio] has suggested he [Tendulkar] needs a break from the Irani Trophy to recover from the stiff elbow."
Tendulkar will work with Close in Mumbai from September 20 to get fit in time in order to join the national camp in Bangalore. He had twisted his elbow while fielding during the third Test in Sri Lanka last month and was forced out of the one-dayers that followed.
The Irani Trophy match will take place between Ranji Trophy champions Delhi and a Rest of India side that will feature probables for the Test series. Tendulkar had earlier declared himself fit for the match, which starts on Wednesday in Baroda. Shetty said there would be no replacement for Tendulkar in the 14-member Rest of India squad.
"Tendulkar is not playing the Irani Trophy because he has been advised a week of rehabilitation," Ratnakar Shetty, the BCCI's chief administrative officer, told Cricinfo. "Paul Close [the National Cricket Academy's physio] has suggested he [Tendulkar] needs a break from the Irani Trophy to recover from the stiff elbow."
Tendulkar will work with Close in Mumbai from September 20 to get fit in time in order to join the national camp in Bangalore. He had twisted his elbow while fielding during the third Test in Sri Lanka last month and was forced out of the one-dayers that followed.
The Irani Trophy match will take place between Ranji Trophy champions Delhi and a Rest of India side that will feature probables for the Test series. Tendulkar had earlier declared himself fit for the match, which starts on Wednesday in Baroda. Shetty said there would be no replacement for Tendulkar in the 14-member Rest of India squad.
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