With India suffering a humiliating loss in the first Test in Adelaide and grappling with the absence of multiple first-choice picks, it is felt the visitors may find it extremely difficult to get themselves back on track for the rest of the series.
In such a situation, Australia's premier batsman Steve Smith said, it's crucial to retain a positive mindset and have faith on your ability. In a prudent piece of advice for the tourists, hosts' batting great said they must not let the defeat linger in their heads too much.
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After taking a 53-run lead at the halfway mark, the Indians collapsed to just 36, their lowest-ever Test score, against some outstanding fast bowling from Josh Hazlewood and Pat Cummins, going down by eight wickets.
"Look, the other day we just saw some pretty incredible fast bowling. It is probably the best I've seen our bowlers bowl collectively for about five years I think," Smith said in a virtual media conference facilitated by series' official broadcaster 'Sony Network'.
"The lengths they were hitting were just impeccable. Sometimes that happens, you get a good ball and you nick it...You got to let it go and move on and try and keep yourself in a positive mindset."
"Again every individual is different, the way they take their dismissals, how they think about the game after it's finished. It's important to keep moving forward, look at yourself individually, what you could have done better."
The Indian team will also be missing the services of their regular captain and best batsman, Virat Kohli, due to paternity leave and first-choice quick Mohammad Shami following an injury.
"Not thinking too much about India and how they're going to come back. For us, it's just about doing the things we need to do well. It's about just executing what we need to do out in the middle and doing it to the best of our ability," Smith said.
While recognising Shami's absence as a big blow, Smith said the Aussies will have to maintain their guard as Indians have "quality" replacements available in Navdeep Saini and Mohammad Siraj.
"I think they're two quality bowlers who can have some good Test careers. Obviously they are missing Ishant (Sharma) as well, which is a big loss for them in terms of experience."
Smith, who got out edging a beauty of a delivery against Ravichandran Ashwin in the first innings in Adelaide, said he has got plans ready to counter the off-spinner's threat.
"The spinners that do well here generally those who get over the top of the ball and beat you with more bounce or in the air as opposed to ones that come around the ball."
"It's about finding a way to adapt and that's what the best players do around the world. I'll hopefully learn something from that, move forward and play a little bit better in the next game."
The 31-year-old is carrying a sense of excitement about turning up for another Boxing Day Test on December 26.
"I always remember watching the Boxing Day Tests at home and with the family after Christmas. It's sort of like a dream-come-true moment in a way. As a kid, I always wanted to play in a Boxing Day Test match," said Smith, who boasts of a fantastic record in the marquee fixture.
"There's nothing like the thrill and you get the shivers down your spine, and the hairs on the back of your neck rise up when you walk out to bat on Boxing Day with the crowd yelling."
"I like batting at the MCG on those sort of big occasions. I'd like to try and make the most of them."
Smith hopes the New Year's Test will also remain with Sydney despite the sudden rise in COVID-19 cases there.
"I think everyone's preference here would be to play in Sydney. Personally I'd love Sydney to happen, I love playing at the SCG, it's my home ground, but we will always be guided by experts," he concluded.
(Inputs from PTI)
