Sydney
Brushing off the disappointment after being dropped midway through the Test tour of England, India opener Murali Vijay said he will fancy his chances on the bouncier Australian wickets, which favour his backfoot game.

“It was good to get some practice. I just took my chances and it came my way. I know opportunities are round the corner and wanted to be in a positive frame of mind. I have been working hard on my game and fitness, and I am looking forward to contributing in this series. Hopefully I can do that,” Vijay said at the end of the practice match against a Cricket Australia XI.

Vijay added 109 runs with KL Rahul, who scored a fluent 62, and belied the dressing room’s concerns over the opening combination after youngster Prithvi Shaw was injured. “Basically I am ready after playing county cricket, tour matches in New Zealand and Australia. I just want to go out there, contribute and give a good start for my team. I have always been aiming at that and there is nothing is different this time,” he said.

The seasoned opener said that he was looking forward to playing Test cricket in Australia again, especially after enjoying a good series here in 2014. “We (Rahul and him) come from the same part of India so we understand each other well. He is a good guy to bat with and he is fun. Hopefully, we can carry that momentum forward into the first Test. It always feels good to go to the grounds where you have scored runs as it helps you a lot and I have good memories of it,” he added. The bouncier Australian pitches work to his advantage as he likes to play on the backfoot. “Playing in Australia suits my game because I am a batsman who likes to play on the backfoot. Australia is one place you get the bounce so you can play your shots,” he said.