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ADELAIDE - Mike Hussey has challenged Indian cricket beanpole Ishant Sharma to back up his match-turning spell in Perth on an Adelaide wicket the Australian expects won't swing for long.
Sharma turned the third test India's way on the final day with the dismissal of Ricky Ponting, which sat nicely alongside his two for 34 in the first innings.
But Hussey said he had to replicate that kind of form elsewhere.
"He's a very good bowler, he's young, he's aggressive, he's got good pace and hits the bat hard," Hussey said.
"But he's got to do that on all surfaces and I know the guys are going to be very determined to keep him out in this test match."
While Hussey said India had out-bowled Australia in their famous victory he was confident swing would not be the factor it was in Perth come the start of the fourth test on Thursday.
Hussey, who was out nicking behind to an away-swinger during Australia's first innings 212, said some shots would have to be shelved if the new ball did dart around.
"We probably fell foul of that a little bit in the first innings," he said.
"My personal shot I was really disappointed to get in that manner when the ball was swinging, particularly after we lost a few early wickets as well. You've just got to make those adjustments.
"In the second innings I felt I was a lot more disciplined outside the off stump.
"There's nowhere to hide in test cricket, you make one mistake and you're back in the pavilion."
While respectful of India's performances with the ball, he was adamant Australia had faced tougher challenges from Simon Jones, Andrew Flintoff and Matthew Hoggard in that watershed series 2-1/2 years ago.
"I didn't play in the Ashes series when we lost in 2005, but that England bowling line-up, that unit, seemed to bowl very, very well as a group," he said.
"Just from watching, they seemed like the best bowling I've seen in test cricket for a long time, outside the Australian team.
"There's some pretty fine bowlers around the (world), the South Africans have got a pretty good bowling line-up, England fully fit have got a pretty good bowling line up.
"It's hard to say whether they're (India) the best in the business, I'm not sure about that. "
Already Australia have declared how desperate they will be to bounce back against opponents who have gained some noticeable on-field confidence.
But opening batsman Matthew Hayden, who will return to the side after hamstring soreness, was confident Australia were in their own league at their best.
"There's no other side in the world that comes close to us when we're playing at our best," he told Sky TV.
"We've had a bit of a glitch on the radar this week, but I don't suspect for one minute that that's going to be in our mindset coming into and preparing for this test match."
Spinner Brad Hogg is also likely to return, to replace paceman Shaun Tait.
Tait went wicketless in Perth and appears the likely fall guy for Australia's failed ploy of playing four fast bowlers.
But Hussey said the South Australian was the sort of player who could be shown some leeway by selectors because of the damage he could cause when at his best.
"I know he'll be working harder and trying to make the bad days and the good days closer together, but every cricketer has that," he said.
"I felt that in the Perth test match, getting out for a duck in the first innings after 145 not out in Sydney."
- AAP
