Aussies refine plans to counter Pujara

Australia bowling coach David Saker has shared the revised blueprint Australia's quicks will employ to knock down India's batting wall, Cheteshwar Pujara.

Pujara was man of the match in India's first-Test win in Adelaide for his obdurate 123 in the first innings that proved the difference in the low-scoring encounter.

The 30-year-old absorbed 450 balls across both innings – he scored 71 in India's second dig – to frustrate Australia's supreme bowling attack on a slow, low Adelaide Oval pitch.

It took a brilliant piece of fielding from Pat Cummins and all of Nathan Lyon's skill and experience to dismiss Pujara in the first Test, but Saker believes the conditions in Perth favour his bowling unit.

Unlike the Adelaide Oval, the Perth Stadium pitch has offered pace and bounce for the seam bowlers, with several deliveries on the opening day misbehaving.

The sight of the red Kookaburra ball flying around has given Saker confidence his three-pronged pace attack can bulldoze India's 'wall'.

"He was excellent (in Adelaide)," Saker said on a live chat on cricket.com.au's Facebook page.

"The wicket, being a bit slower, suited the way he batted as well.

"I think on a quicker wicket like this one, if we can be just a tad fuller I think we challenge his pad and his outside edge.

"He's a big wicket for us because he's their glue, really.

"The other players will play their shots, he just does 'the wall' so to speak.

"We just want to bowl a little bit fuller to him and on a quicker wicket we think we might be able to nick him off."

One of Australia's fast bowlers looking to dismiss Pujara is Mitchell Starc, the left-armer who copped criticism for his performance in the first Test.

Starc claimed 5-103 from 40.5 overs but was wayward at times, particularly with the second new ball in India's second innings, but Saker is not concerned by the spearhead's form.

The 28-year-old is just nine wickets away from 200 Test wickets and has a career strike-rate of 50.2, the best of any Australian bowler with more than 100 wickets.

Starc's ability to swing the ball and quickly dispose of the tail makes him a dangerous prospect and a vital asset for Australia in Test cricket.

It's why Saker is dismissive of the suggestions his star speedster is playing for his Test spot in Perth.

"I've been really happy with the way Mitchell has been bowling all summer," Saker said.

"He hasn't probably got the wickets and the results he would have liked but his control and his run-up to the crease is really good.

"His action at the crease is excellent and he's swinging the ball again, and that's really important for us.

"Yes, he didn't get some spells right (in Adelaide) and it did cost us quite a bit, but he's one person we know gets the tail out, and with the changes to their team, their last four batters won't like facing him.

"And if he doesn't get the wickets, Nathan will, because the pressure and the physical intimidation Mitchell brings gives the bowlers at the other end more of a chance of getting wickets.

"You look at his record in Test cricket, he's always been someone who bowls some really bad balls but then he bowls a great ball and gets wickets.

"His strike-rate, his average and everything he is, you'd pick that guy every day of the week."

Domain Test Series v India

Dec 6-10: First Test, Adelaide Oval, India won by 31 runs

Dec 14-18: Second Test, Perth Stadium

Dec 26-30: Third Test, MCG

Jan 3-7: Fourth Test, SCG

Australia squad: Tim Paine (c, wk), Josh Hazlewood (vc), Mitch Marsh (vc), Pat Cummins, Aaron Finch, Peter Handscomb, Marcus Harris, Travis Head, Usman Khawaja, Nathan Lyon, Shaun Marsh, Peter Siddle, Mitchell Starc, Chris Tremain

India squad: Virat Kohli (c), Murali Vijay, KL Rahul, Prithvi Shaw, Cheteshwar Pujara, Ajinkya Rahane, Hanuma Vihari, Rohit Sharma, Rishabh Pant (wk), Parthiv Patel (wk), Ravi Ashwin, Ravi Jadeja, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Shami, Ishant Sharma, Umesh Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah, Bhuvneshwar Kumar