Melbourne: Australian all-rounder Shane Watson sounded out a warning for the Indian team, which would be touring Down Under in December, that the home team's groundsmen will prepare "conducive pitches" just like their Indian counterparts do during an away series.
"We are hopeful that the groundsmen are going to make the grounds very conducive to what we do because in India they certainly make sure the conditions are favourable to them," said Watson.
Watson, who is making a comeback to local Grade cricket after long lay-off due to calf-muscle injury, feels that the Indian team with its strong batting line-up will find the conditions in Australia challenging.
"They (India) have got a lot of world-class players, especially in their batting, but over here is a different challenge for them," Watson commented. Watson has started bowling off a few steps in the nets since last Monday and hopes to bat at the top of the order for his Sydney based club team Sutherland this weekend, and he even has his sights set on a possible return to the New South Wales side towards the end of the Matador Cup.
"If everything goes well this week, I should be available to play a game on Sunday for my club team," Watson said.
"I'm very excited to be back playing. It's the biggest break I've had in three or four years so I'm really itching to get back. It's been a pretty slow process coming back after standing on the ball (in August)." Asked his batting order once he is back in the national team, Watson did not hide his desire to have another crack at the top of the order facing the new ball.
"I have had my best success opening in all formats. I love going in knowing I can just take on the game and not worry about the consequences, which is when I am batting at my best." Watson made it clear that he gets into a negative mindset once he starts batting lower down the order.
"The biggest challenge for me when I am batting down the order is assessing the situation of the game and also trying not to worry about getting out and that's normally when I get into a slightly negative mindset, which can affect my performance at times," he said.
