Tourists chase reversal of fortune

Clueless about reverse swing in 2008, the Australian team of 2010 believe they have the formula to turn India's most potent pace weapon against the home side.

Midway through the Test series in India two years ago, the Australian bowling attack concluded they had no idea how to bowl "Irish" swing on the subcontinent.

They were made to look like fools by the local bowlers Zaheer Khan and Ishant Sharma, who in some innings bent the ball the wrong way inside 10 overs as the home side rattled to a 2-0 series victory.

Things will be different this time around, according to all-rounder Shane Watson.

"Absolutely (we'll be better equipped to bowl reverse).

"If the conditions suit ... we definitely know how to do it much more and I've learned a lot from two years ago how we went about it, because it didn't work," Watson said ahead of Friday's first Test at Mohali, scene of a 320-run hiding for Australia in 2008.

"In Australia this year we were able to work on a few techniques to make it go reverse and we were able to make the most of it last summer.

"It is a really important part of success over here to make the most of the ball because the wickets are often very flat, so if the ball's not moving it makes it very difficult to get wickets.

"That's what we learned from the Indians last time, so it's a big thing." While elements of the art remain inexact, the Australians enjoyed some success in employing it during their first match of the current tour.

Against the Indian Board President's XI, the ball started to swerve in dangerous directions in the first innings (177 all out) but not the second (0-174).

"We did (get reverse swing) in the first innings, we didn't quite have the same luck for whatever reason in the second innings, but it's part of the game, something we've got to work on and I'm sure we'll find a way," said Ben Hilfenhaus.

"It's a bit of a mystery to us, but we're still working away at the best way to get it going, but there were lots of different thoughts and strategies out there."

Pace bowling coach Troy Cooley, who learned as much as his pupils in 2008, said fruitful bowling was as much about enjoying the challenge of getting the ball to move around in ways not so commonly called on elsewhere.

"They've applied themselves to these conditions, I think they now embrace these conditions, they know it's different to anywhere else in the world, and I think they find their bit of fun in delivering their skills here in a different environment," said Cooley.