A lot of work needs to be done: Coach B Arun

SYDNEY: Between them India's six mainline bowlers have played 463 internationals, including 122 Tests, but their coach B Arun still maintains that the team's attack is a "work in progress" as an excuse for their inept performance during the current Australian tour.

Allrounder Arun, who played two Test matches in 1986-87 and scored four runs and took four wickets for an average of 29, today said there is still a lot of work needed to be done to bring about discipline among the bowlers.

Openers David Warner and Chris Rogers shared a 200-run opening stand to put Australia in control on day 1 by reaching 348-2 and Arun said his bowlers have to be more consistent.

"It has been a mixed bag. We have to be lot more disciplined than we are at present. There have been occasions where we have been disciplined but I think the consistency is going to be the key," said Arun.

"There is a lot of work need to be done on that. We are working on that to be more consistent and disciplined. Every kind of wicket you bowl on is different. You got to adjust to the wicket to be able to do that," he added.

The Indian bowlers have conceded totals of more than 500 in the first innings in each of the first three Tests and have given away a whopping 2674 runs so far. They have taken 49 wickets so far for a disappointing strike rate of 54.57 runs per wicket.

Among the front line bowlers, Ishant has been the most experienced bowler with 61 Tests under his belt, while Bhuvneshwar Kumar (11), Umesh Yadav (11), Mohammad Shami (11), R Ashwin (23), Varun Aaron (5) have played fewer Tests.

Ishant Sharma was rested from this Test owing to a left-knee pain and as such the experience factor in the playing eleven was lacking.

When asked if this was a factor on a tough day and easy pitch, the coach replied, "We are a young side and we are in the process of rebuilding and learning. We have performed well so far and we have been very competitive in this series.

"If you notice the first two matches, they could have gone the either way. The fact is we are not as consistent as we need to be. That's a fact and we really need to look hard and work on it."

In a surprising move by new skipper Virat Kohli, Cheteshwar Pujara was left out of the playing eleven with both Rohit Sharma and Suresh Raina coming into the side. Shikhar Dhawan was also left out.

"You have got to look at the overall balance of the team before you decide on the combinations. A lot of thought has been given to that before deciding on the side. Pujara has been exceptional for us earlier," Arun said.

"But the composition of the team is a decision taken by the team management. Players who are benched are spoken to, and they would be given sufficient opportunity to make a come-back too," he signed off.