India cannot be complacent against Australia: Duncan Fletcher

[Karan114]

India cannot be complacent against Australia: Duncan Fletcher Published: Monday, Dec 12, 2011 Place: Chennai | Agency: IANS Indian cricket coach Duncan Fletcher Monday asserted that India must not get complacent in the Test series down under and should not read much into Australia's inconsistent run in their recent series against New Zealand and South Africa. Fletcher, speaking at the pre-tour press conference here alongside Mahendra Singh Dhoni, was addressing questions after Australia's shock defeat to New Zealand in the second Test in Hobart. Fletcher said India needed to be wary of Australia and complacency would not be good for his team going into the important tour. "If we are in complacent attitude before going there, it is not good for the team. It is important that we go there with the feelings that they have the best of bowling attack and good batsmen in their rank. We've got to be very wary and put up right kind of performances," said Fletcher of the team who have been inconsistent in the recent past. Australia collapsed to 233 all out from 159 for two to lose the second Test Monday and let New Zealand level the two-match series. When asked about Australia's bowling attack, Fletcher said: "We will have to make the decision after we play them. Then we can tell you whether they are the weakest." On his side's bowling line-up, Fletcher observed that seamer Zaheer Khan, who has been included in the squad but is subject to his fitness, looked impressive at the nets and the two side-games prior to the first Test in Melbourne would provide a more accurate update on his fitness. From the reports that I get, Zaheer had come to Mumbai and bowled at the nets there and he looked impressive. I think it is very important that he looked to be in very good condition from what we saw in him even when he came to England. Secondly, he has got these two games (warm-ups). It will be preparation for him. We do not want to rush him too quickly. The one three-day game there (in Australia) will be important for him before the first Test, the coach said. The Indians are scheduled to play a two-day warm-up game in Canberra Dec 15-16 followed by another match at the same venue Dec 19-21, both against Cricket Australia ChairmanÃÔ XI, and four back-to-back Tests at Melbourne (Dec 26-30), Sydney (Jan 3-7), Perth (Jan 13-17) and Adelaide (Jan 24-28). http://www.dnaindia.com/sport/report_india-cannot-be-complacent-against-australia-duncan-fletcher_1624887

[urbestfriend]

Complacency?? What for? :ohmy: As if we are the world beaters..Someone should remind him of 4-0, not so long ago.

[cowboysfan]

I still think the aussies are favorites to win,our bowling looks way too unsettled atm,zaks fitness is again the key and thats not good for us.

[bulbul]

i dont feel the same excitement i used to have in erlier tour to OZ..may be quality of cricket i guess

[Old guy]

our bowling to me is more settled then australia.. starc isnt good enough pattinson needs to be tested on flatter tracks.. they need harris badly with us atleast ishant has toured before... zak seems to be getting fit and working hard for tests and yadav he performed on indian unhelpful conditions..there is every chance he will perform here too .. to me only prob owuld if one of these guys gets injured some good replacement needs to me sent.. its not like we dont have bowlers but selection is crap

[1983-2011]

whos that guy in ur avatar OP

[urbestfriend]

whos that guy in ur avatar OP

:fail: This man when he was young.

[bulbul]

:fail: This man when he was young.

:giggle:

[ganeshran]

[Needforspeed]

Complacent!! What's he talking about. After the thrashing we got in England, Australia should be the ones talking about complacency. The immediate priority should be not to lose the first Test-we always suffer from the 'First Test Syndrome. Hope India take the 2 practice matches seriously.

[Pagalpanti]

Ahead of English tour. India can dominate world cricket for next 5-10 years: Fletcher Now, India cannot be complacent against Australia: Duncan Fletcher Talk about hyping up. :facepalm:

[Trichromatic]

:facepalm:

[Cricket Tragic]

I suggest that you people watch the press conference. He was asked questions like if this was the weakest Aussie team/worst Aussie attack/best chance to win in Aus etc and he was responding to that.