Sydney, Mar 6 : The inexperience of Australian batsmen in the sub-continent conditions can''t be accepted as an excuse for their disastrous showing so far in the first two Test matches against India, according to sports journalist, Chris Barrett. "Australia''s batsmen exited with such frequency at the Rajiv Gandhi Stadium on Tuesday morning that it was as if they had somewhere else to be.

Victory, after the events of the preceding three days, was always going to be a long shot," Barrett wrote in his column for the Sydney Morning Herald. "Even saving the match was at distant odds. But the way, in which they were felled, losing 8-57 before lunch, was embarrassing.

The fingers can be pointed at the selectors, at the bowling attack, at a lack of top-class spinners, but the villains here have been the batsmen," he added. "Michael Clarke aside the top order has been abysmal.

Combating the spin lobbed at them on dusty pitches by the Indian tricksters was always going to be a major issue. But inexperience in such conditions isn''t an excuse for what has been served up in Hyderabad," he further wrote.

Barrett added: "Patience and respect for their wickets seemed to be totally absent, and shot selection was awful. Too many have been fooled playing across the line and against the spin." "Whether that is any help is anyone''s guess. Shane Watson and Phil Hughes, for starters, are lucky to be even holding their places.

The problem is that there is basically no one else to come in. This could be the lot we''re stuck with," he concluded. (ANI)