Aussies to learn from Kohli: batting coach

Australia's batting coach Graeme Hick says Virat Kohli's patience at the crease in Melbourne has shown the hosts how to bat.

The message to Australia's misfiring batsmen at the MCG was clear but challenging: be more like Virat Kohli.

Kohli's first-innings knock of 82 in the third Test is unlikely to feature heavily on the legend's career highlights reel.

There were nine sweetly timed boundaries from the world's best batsman but for the most part it was more of a grind than he is accustomed to.

Nonetheless, the superstar's patience during the 204-ball stint at the crease was exactly what the situation called for and helped India seize control of the contest.

In sharp contrast, Australia were rolled for 151 in their first innings that spanned 66.5 overs.

The top six folded in collapses of 3-29 and 3-13 on Friday.

"We've spoken about how Kohli went about it," Australia's batting coach Graeme Hick said before the start of play on day four.

"If you can't be on the same field as him, watch him play and learn from what he's doing - then you're in the wrong space.

"There's certainly something our players can take out of that. It takes a lot of discipline, patience.

"Kohli is one of the more explosive batters (but reined in his aggression)."

Hick conceded his charges were guilty of gifting wickets in the first innings.

The same trend continue at the start of Australia's second innings, when Aaron Finch steered the second delivery he faced from Jasprit Bumrah straight to Kohli at second slip.

"Our batting line-up has got a lot of learning to do," Hick told radio station SEN.

"'It's disappointing. You feel, as head (batting) coach, that if you're putting the work in and doing the right things - you hope over a period of time, the players learn.

"Unfortunately, it's not the easiest thing to learn out in the middle of the MCG."

Hick admitted the contrast between India's star-studded bating order and Australia's inexperienced top six, weakened by the absence of Steve Smith and David Warner, was sharp.

"They're certainly on top of their game and have a lot of international cricket under their belt. In some respects our batting line-up is maybe at the other end of the spectrum," he said.


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Source: AAP



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