Perth Test win has given us a lot of confidence: Paine

Taking a lot of confidence from the big win in Perth, Australia will feel they can get the better of India in the third Test here, feels captain Tim Paine, who also stressed that his side are not getting ahead of themselves.

"Certainly when you have an inexperienced team and you get a big win like in Perth against the number one team in the world, guys are going to grow in confidence a little bit and come to Melbourne feeling better than when we did to Perth," Paine said on the eve of the match.

"I don't feel like we are on top of them. We feel like we are getting better with every Test. We are improving with every game but we need to keep stacking up good days and play good Test cricket. If we can do that for the next 4-5 days I think we will be in the thick of it again," Paine added.

The four-match series is levelled at 1-1 after the hosts registered a comprehensive 146-run victory in reply to India's 31- run win in the first rubber in Adelaide.

On India making three changes for the Boxing Day Test with Mayank Agarwal, Rohit Sharma and Ravindra Jadeja replacing openers Murali Vijay, KL Rahul and pacer Umesh Yadav, Paine said he is not bothered.

"India's changes don't really bother us because we have done our homework on all of their players for a number of weeks now. We have been prepared for all of them to play. What they do is their business, and we will keep focussing on what we are doing," Paine expressed.

Australia also made a change with Mitchell Marsh coming in the side replacing Peter Handscomb.

"We did it last year during the Ashes as well and majority of this decision is based on the fact that it will be hot and the bowlers have had a big role play. We think Mitch can come in and do a good job with the bat and will be a great support for our bowlers as well.

"Peter knows that there are things we would like him to improve. Going into Sydney, where it normally spins, I think he will come back into it quickly because he is our best player of spin. He would like to get better because we all like to do that and he will be doing everything he can to come back into the side," he explained.

--IANS

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