Matthew Wade
MATTHEW Wade admits Australia's batsmen are sitting ducks unless they find a way to release the pressure valve screwed on so tightly by India's spinners.
The tourists have been thrashed in the first two Tests of the four-match series and are what coach Mickey Arthur calls "soul- searching" ahead of the third Test in Mohali from March 14.
After making 380 and 241 in the first Test in Chennai, Australia flopped again in Hyderabad with scores of 9-237 declared and 131, to lose by an innings and 135 runs by lunch on day four.
Averaging only 23 for the series, Wade knows he needs to lift as does every other batsmen in the top six apart from skipper Michael Clarke (268 runs at 67).
"Individually, we'd like to stick around with him and help him out a little bit more and take the pressure off him," Wade said.
Wicketkeeper-batsman Wade, who has scored two centuries in his 11-Test career, says he feels comfortable at No.6. "But batting six means I have to contribute more runs," he said.
The 25-year-old said the pressure of playing in front of packed houses with fieldsmen all around the bat was intense.
Clarke and vice-captain Shane Watson are the only batsmen in the top seven with previous Test experience in India. "Things happen so fast and it's so loud you feel like you are in a spin at the time," Wade said.
