Australia look to end fear factor for T20s

Stand-in coach David Saker will encourage his Australian side to play with freedom in the upcoming T20 international series with India.

Moises Henriques.

Moises Henriques is among Australia's reinforcements for the T20 series against India. (AAP)

The shackles are off the Australian cricket team.

After playing "scared" led to an emphatic 4-1 defeat in the one-day international series with India, stand-in coach David Saker is expecting fresh blood to revitalise the team ahead of three T20 internationals.

Batting collapses again blighted the series for Australia, with the middle order unable to get hold of the Indian attack.

"I think a lot of them are playing a little bit scared," Saker said.

"We try to make sure they play with a lot of freedom and express themselves as much as they can.

"When you're losing you play scared. You go into it and you start looking after No. 1."

Steve Smith, David Warner, Aaron Finch, Glenn Maxwell and Travis Head will stay in India for the T20s.

Fast bowlers Nathan Coulter-Nile, Kane Richardson and legspinner Adam Zampa will also continue on the tour.

They will be joined by wicketkeeper Tim Paine, allrounders Dan Christian and Moises Henriques and pacemen Jason Behrendorff and Andrew Tye, who replaces the rested Pat Cummins.

Saker expects most of the squad to be given a chance across the three T20Is, with the first match in Ranchi on Saturday.

"A long tour of India can sometimes get you down and wear you down," he said.

"But I think getting five or six new guys into the squad after what's happened in the one-day series, we'll be really determined to bounce back."

India have tinkered less with their squad.

Opener Shikhar Dhawan, who missed the one-dayers to care for his sick wife, replaces Ajinkya Rahane, while veteran seamer Ashish Nehra has been recalled.

Dinesh Karthik has also been added to the Indian squad.

Saker, who is also Australia's bowling coach, has been pleased with the fast bowlers' efforts.

But it appears Zampa will again have his work cut out for him after a tough ODI series.

"I think our spin bowling has been a little bit down on this trip and I think Zamps would be the first to say that," Saker said.

"I think it's something definitely to investigate.

"He showed some good signs but it's always tough coming here playing against an Indian team."


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Source: AAP



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