Mumbai: Indian batsman Robin Uthappa on Saturday said he would not hesitate in giving it back to the Australians if they try to rattle him by sledging in the upcoming tri-series Down Under. "We won't sit back and take it, we will give it back when the situation demands," he said.

Speaking to the press on the eve of departure of players who would join the team for the series in Australia, he said he was happy with the management's decision to play him number six and would do his best to make best use of it. "The opening batsmen set the tempo but when I come in, we have to capitalise on it."

The right-hander said even though he had a disappointing domestic season he was practicing at the National Cricket Academy (NCA) under the guidance of Dav Whatmore and was optimistic that he would play well Down Under. He said the reason for the selectors not finding him worthy for Test squad was not his hard hitting but the quality of the players in the line-up.

"Even Yuvi had to sit out. Just because I am a hard hitting batsman I don't find a place in the Test squad that s false, look at (Andrew) Symonds," he said. The one-dayers will be tough with the world champions on one side and the World Cup finalists Sri Lanka on the other, he said. Uthappa, however, was not bothered about the bouncy pitches in Australia.

"In South Africa we played the rising deliveries well and I don't think that it should be a problem here too."

Source : PTI