SydneyAustralian coach Darren Lehmann stated that he wants the bowlers to improve their performances with the new ball after the conclusion of the series against West Indies.
Australia started the Test series with a bang by winning the first game in Hobart by an innings and 212 runs with Josh Hazlewood and James Pattinson taking 12 wickets combined.
West Indies were bowled in 70 overs in the first innings of the first Test while it took Australia just 36.3 overs to wrap up the second innings in Hobart.
However, in the second and third Tests West Indies put on an improved show to last close to a 100 overs on average in the three innings that were possible across the two games.
Lehmann feels that the current Australian bowling attack needs to do well with the new ball in order to take quick wickets upfront to unsettle the top order.
Lehmann rued the fact that Australia were unable to take the wickets of the lower order. Id like our new-ball bowling to improve, Lehmann told cricket.com.aus Stumps show.
I think we bowled well without knocking over two or three early wickets and in the last three innings they (the West Indies) averaged close to 100 overs with the bat.
And weve got to make sure were knocking over the top order a bit better than that.
Australia have been affected by the retirement of Ryan Harris and Mitchell Johnson while the injury to Mitchell Starc has left their attack depleted.
Admitting that Australia have missed the services of Starc in the West Indies series, Lehmann said that the upcoming contest against New Zealand will require a different kind of bowling attack with emphasis on swing.
We certainly missed that extra pace knocking over the tail and the way he (Mitchell Starc) swings the ball and really hits the pegs against the tail enders is important, Lehmann told ABC Radio.
The pace thing, for me, is really important when youre talking (about being able to dismiss) batsmen number seven (to) number eleven.
Weve missed that in this series, but more so on Australian wickets. I think New Zealand will be different, where it moves around a little bit.
Pace is not the biggest thing for us. Its actually good control and (putting) the ball in the right areas. Its about getting the right attack for New Zealand first and foremost. That might be a totally different attack than our normal attack, if you like.
For the upcoming One-Day International series against India, Australia have named a young squad consisting of a new-look bowling attack with the likes of Joel Paris, Scott Boland, and Kane Richardson.
Admitting that it is a ploy to test out new players before the 2016 World Twenty20, Lehmann stated that the matches against India will be important for Australia.
With our injures (to fast bowlers) weve got to look at some players anyway, Lehmann said.
So this gives us a chance to do both this time, and very rarely do we get a chance to do that.
Were pretty close (to settling on a squad for the World T20) but there are still performances in the Big Bash League that will come into play.
And obviously our three T20s against India at the back-end of the one-day series will be important for us.
But weve got a pretty important one-day series and then weve got a very important Test against New Zealand (before then).
Shaun Marsh is also named in the ODI squad against India and Lehmann is confident that the 32-year-old will grab his chance given his recent form in the Test format.
We think he (Shaun Marsh) is batting really well; he was unlucky to be left out (for the third Test).
He is in really good form. He has showed that with the scores in the last few games so we are impressed with where he is at and he has a chance to play well for Australia.
He has had an impressive summer, he played well for us. When he gets his chance I am sure he will do well.
According to Lehmann, Australia are wary of the threat India possesses in the ODI format and admitted that the team will have to do well against the 2015 World Cup semi-finalists.
They are a good one-day side. They made the semis of the World Cup. They are a quality side and from our point of view, we have to play well and start well against them.
We havent played in Perth for a while, so that is exciting for us, I think it is a good, fast and bouncy track.
The ODI series between Australia and India will get underway with the first game in Perth on 12th January after the completion of the two tour matches between the visitors and the Western Australia XI.
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