Bancroft's sweeps reap benefits

Australia A batsman Cameron Bancroft, who struck 150 off 267 balls to subdue India's three-pronged spin attack on a slow pitch by sweeping and advancing down the track, stressed that he had used the sweep as an attacking option.

"I definitely have my plans to use both options. To be able to come down the wicket and also to be able to use the sweep shot. I think being able to do both really helped me get on top of the bowler, put him under pressure and rotate the strike and keep the scorecard ticking over," Bancroft said.

"So, it's something I have worked a lot on, especially the sweep shot and it worked pretty well for me. It was a pretty good option to get off strike and as I said, keep the scoreboard ticking over."

Bancroft also credited Matthew Hayden and Australia A consultant, S Sriram, for offering vital inputs on handling spin.

"Sri came over in an Academy team in early June. Sri came and did a few sessions with us. He has been awesome. Just to get comfortable playing defence, that has certainly helped me a lot," Banscroft said. "Being comfortable with the ball spinning past the bat and as long as you are playing the line and playing straight, that's okay. I have been working hard on the sweep and things like that. He has given me a lot of confidence.

"You get a lot of coaches that come up. I think Matty Hayden came up last year. It was awesome talking to him about sweeping and playing spin. You get ideas from lot of coaches, you apply to yourself and see what works."

Australia A assistant coach Stuart Law lauded Bancroft for driving the visitors onward with positive strokeplay.

"We have been brought up to get the game moving forward," Law said. "We see it as, if you are a batsman your job is to score runs. Survival is one thing but there is a way of survival as well. Our footwork and clearness of mind is more in the forefront. I think the way Cam Bancroft played in the game was outstanding."

Law, who has had coaching stints with Sri Lanka and Bangladesh, conceded that it was a tough challenge for overseas coaches to adjust to the subcontinent.

"It is very difficult for an overseas coach to come into a sub-continental area. Different cultures, different backgrounds. The biggest trouble would be the way the communication is transferred between captain and players, coach and players," Law said.

"I have been in the sub-continent for a bit, your first experience isn't always memorable. But as you understand the place and learn the culture and I think it's pretty important that you learn the culture and learn how things work. Its quite enjoyable coming in. If someone's knocking on the door and having a chat about doing that [coaching India] I would be more than happy to sit down and listen."