Australian cricket coach terms the series against India a challenge

Mumbai, Oct 23 (ANI): Tim Neilson, coach of Australian cricket team, on Thursday termed the upcoming One-Day International (ODI) series against India as "a challenge".

India will play a seven-match ODI series against the visiting Australians, with the first match to be played at Baroda on Sunday.

Neilson said that the biggest challenge is to play India before a crazy home crowd.

"The biggest challenge will be confronting the big names of the Indian cricket team in front of their home ground and making sure that we don't get too emotionally into it, we just concentrate in doing what we do best," said Neilson, as the visitors took to the nets in Mumbai.

Indian team is taking on Australia without ace bowler, Zaheer Khan.

Zaheer, recovering from a left-shoulder injury, has been spearheading the Indian bowling attack and he was conspicuous during the World Cup T20 as well as in the recently concluded Champions Trophy in South Africa.

"Zaheer Khan missing is definitely a good thing because he bowled so beautifully during the test series last year. But someone who is definitely a world-class bowler is Harbhajan Singh, so always really enjoyed facing him because he is such a great challenge. I am really looking forward to that," said Shane Watson, Australian all rounder.

The venues of the other matches are Nagpur (October 28), New Delhi (October 31), Mohali (November 2), Hyderabad (November 5), Guwahati (November 8) and Mumbai (November 11). (ANI)