Perth, Feb 8: High on the emphatic win over the touring Indian team in the tri-series opener, Australia coach Mickey Arthur was happy with the bench strength which gave the team plenty of viable options. Arthur felt the presence of veterans Ricky Ponting and Michael Hussey was instrumental in building the team. He also indicated that James Pattinson would be back in the team for the last leg of the ongoing tri-series.

Excerpts from Arthur’s press conference:

On the win against India in the first match of the CB series

That was a really clinical performance on Sunday. I was really happy with that. […] Luckily Peter Forrest might get a go […] We still have a lot of discussion around that [pending]. I am not sure as to where he fits in but we will have some discussion leading up to the game.

On resting players

Nobody wants to rest, which is great. The guys want to keep playing. They realise that we have got a really good talent pool now […] Places are at a premium and there is a lot of competition for places so I guess nobody wants to relinquish their position which is perfect. […] It’s hard to say where and when and how we are going to rest them. The results determine how we get into the competition. Our plan was always to start well and through the middle give some development opportunities to some players and pick our best team again at the closing stages and hopefully the final. […] We’ll see how that unfolds.

On Ben Hilfenhaus

They are all very keen to get out on the WACA. […] Hilfenhaus is coming in on standby. With Brett [Lee] being injured, Hilfy is on standby. Luckily we will have the same attack playing [against Sri Lanka].

On the seniors and the juniors in the team

[…] That’s one of the reasons why we have kept the squad together. The value of Ricky [Ponting] and Mike [Hussey] is sensational around the group. They still are our best trainers, they definitely fit in as players and for Peter Forrest and the younger guys to be around those two is inspirational for them. They get an indication of what is required to become international players […]

On Shaun Marsh

[…] Shaun’s been through a real tough time. His confidence took a real knock. I spoke to him last night and it was really good to hear; he was a lot more chirpy […]. Shaun’s a player [who] when he scores well, he kicks on so I am hoping he just keeps kicking on, gets his confidence back and comes back into the international arena at some stage and is able to sustain a good career here. He’s certainly got the talent.

On Shane Watson

It has been frustrating for us and frustrating for Shane [Watson] as well. I speak to Shane […] and keep track of the way he is. We had thought we would have Shane back a lot earlier; we haven’t but it is good. He has built his body up […] Hopefully we can get sustainable performance out of Shane once he gets back in. […] Hopefully we can get him back into the one-day competition. […] How he can sustain the batting and the bowling is going to be the question. […]

On Matthew Wade

He has been outstanding […] He is a fighter. He has got a good technique when he bats [and] he is very good behind the stumps. […] It’s great that we have got so much competition in every place. Nobody is assured of a spot. Performance gets you in the team and performance keeps you in the team […]

On playing Wade as a specialist batsman

We wouldn’t rule that out of the equation. […] It could happen […]

On James Pattinson and Patrick Cummins

Pattinson bowled at us [in the nets] in Melbourne, so he's coming back. We could see Pattinson at the back end of the one-day series. Cummins we won’t see until around the West Indies tour if we are comfortable that he has done everything possible and [feel] comfortable to select him.