India a big challenge for youngsters: Katich

Australia's upcoming tour of India would be a big challenge for the youngsters of the team who are yet to play Test cricket in the sub-continent, feels opener Simon Katich.

Australia's upcoming tour of India would be a big challenge for the youngsters of the team who are yet to play Test cricket in the sub-continent, feels opener Simon Katich.

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Katich said it would be a very tough two-Test series against the Indians later this year.

"We do have obviously quite a few young guys stepping into Test cricket now who haven't played in India before, so that will be a test for them, but it's going to be a good challenge," Katich was quoted as saying by the Australian Associated Press.

Australia will tour India in October this year for two Tests and three One-day Internationals.

Katich, who returned home from England along with paceman Doug Bollinger after the drawn two-Test series against Pakistan, said all-rounder Steven Smith and wicketkeeper Tim Paine were brilliant against Pakistan, but felt Mitchell Johnson, Ben Hilfenhaus and Bollinger were off-colour in the series.

"I guess the guys probably would have been a little bit disappointed, but they were all trying and you can't fault their efforts," he said.

"They all put in and tried their hardest, it just didn't happen," the left-hander added.