India outplayed us in series opener: Langer

Adelaide: Australian coach Justin Langer has praised the tough attitude of his young side in the 31-run loss in the first Test against India, but added that the visitors thoroughly outplayed them in the series opener of the four-match series.

Langer also hoped for a juicy wicket at the new Perth stadium that will host its first-ever Test from Friday.

"A lot of coaches who lose say the same thing. There's a lot of really positive stuff. We got so close, didn't we? There were a few key moments in the game but overall we fought really well, we fielded really well, there was great energy. We caught well, and probably just didn't spend as much time in our partnerships with our batting as we would have liked," said Langer before departing for Perth.

"Two out of the last three Tests the Australian cricket team's shown great fighting spirit to draw in Dubai and we just lost yesterday. We're getting closer with this young team," said Langer.

He said the pitch got easier to bat on and on day five, Australia almost pulled off a record chase.

"I knew that it'd get easier to bat on the drop-in wicket in Adelaide. Unfortunately we just weren't able to (string partnerships) as we were losing wickets at crucial moments. If we'd have been two or three down overnight it might've been a different ball game, but it wasn't the case.

"India outplayed us, there's no doubt about that. There was no point in the game where I felt we were on top of India. To their great credit they were more patient than us and they bowled really well," he said.

The new stadium at Perth has hosted only a couple international games, and this will be its first big game with the Indian team coming to town. A fast and bouncy pitch is the talk of town for the maiden Test at this new stadium.

"Hopefully that's what it was traditionally at the

WACA, and that's what we've talked about for a long time, pace and bounce. If we can get that, it'd be a great thing for Test cricket.

"I'm really fascinated and can't wait to see what the Optus Stadium wicket brings. There's been one four-day game in its history there. I went and watched a bit of the Shield game, New South Wales and Western Australia. There was certainly some pace and bounce."