Australia learning to tackle Indian aggression

Australian coach Tim Nielsen brings in Ray Mclean so that youngsters in the world champion team maintain its aura and winning ways.

Having sampled India's new-found aggression during the recent one-day cricket series, Australians are taking lessons from a leadership guru, who would help the new faces not be overawed during the upcoming Test series.

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Australian coach Tim Nielsen has brought in Ray Mclean so that youngsters in the world champion team maintain its aura and winning ways after the retirements of Glenn McGrath, Shane Warne and Justin Langer.

Fast bowler Stuart Clark said McLean had made it clear to the players that they had to look at themselves as the leaders of the Australian cricketing fraternity.

"Ray has said just because they are gone, they have obviously left a legacy, and somebody needs to pick up the slack," Clark said.

"No one can do it like Shane did it or Glenn did it, but maybe two blokes can do what one bloke did. There were things we already knew, but he has helped just how we should look upon this challenge," he was quoted as saying by the 'Herald Sun' today.

McLean has worked on setting team goals and standards, strengthened leadership values, helped the new faces not be overawed, and spoken about on-field behavior.

"The image that we portray and what we do does not just affect the team but the cricketing fraternity," Clarke said.

"We are not letting the outside influences, what the media says or what people say, whether it be right or wrong, affect us and get to what is a pretty tight bunch of guys."

Nielsen said he wanted someone to teach his young team how to get the best out of themselves. "It's not like the team is running poorly. With new players and myself being new, it's a work in progress."