Kumble upbeat ahead of Australia tour

[Ram]

Some nice pieces of news snippets there ! Funny how many people now think Kumble is a good captain. Where were they when Ganguly was axed ?

[fineleg]

Some nice pieces of news snippets there ! Funny how many people now think Kumble is a good captain. Where were they when Ganguly was axed ?

They were burnin' effigies and driving 'narakasura' chappell out and rosto rokos :D

[bharat297]

Its all well and good to bat first and put pressure but what if we don't win the toss and we have to bowl first? We need to have a set plan to ensure that even if we bowl first , our bowlers can get 10 wickets in a short time and keep Australia to a low score.

[manoj_admlab]

Kumble confident experience is enough Brydon Coverdale December 18, 2007 Anil Kumble has always been a master of turn but even he had a hard time spinning a convincing argument that India could beat Australia in their four-Test series. They have the motivation - five or more of their champion veterans are desperate for success on what will almost certainly be their last tour of Australia - but how do you defeat a team that has not lost a home Test series since 1992-93? Kumble's men arrived in Melbourne eight days ahead of the Boxing Day Test and the captain spent his first press conference trying to persuade the media that India could break that spell. He ticked off the reasons India would be a threat, then found just as many causes for his own side to be concerned about Australia's power. He chose his words carefully, which was not surprising for a man who has heard the spin from his captaincy predecessors on visits to Australia, and has seen the results. Fittingly, his major argument revolved around spin, which he declared as Australia's biggest weakness. Shane Warne was proving difficult to replace, he said, and India's batsmen would not mind facing up to a third-choice slow bowler with Stuart MacGill unavailable. "If the wickets help spin, then definitely we have the advantage," Kumble said. "It will definitely help us if it turns in Melbourne and Sydney." Brad Hogg is in Australia's 12-man squad but may yet be squeezed out if a four-man pace attack is favoured. Hogg was impressive in the recent ODI series against India, although Kumble said facing him in a Test match would be a completely different scenario. Kumble brightened when he mulled over Australia's double-loss of Warne and Glenn McGrath. Then he remembered that neither of them played last time India toured Australia in 2003-04, when Warne was enduring his drugs ban and McGrath had an ankle injury. "It definitely gives you a bit of confidence," he said. "But having said that the last time around when we played here Glenn was injured and Warney was not there, so ..." His voice trailed off. If Kumble is a man who sees the glass as half-full, the sentence might have finished with "and we didn't lose". If his glass is half-empty, the thought could have been "no Warne, no McGrath and we still couldn't beat them." India did play well on that visit, securing a 1-1 draw and Kumble saw no reason that their style of play should change this time around. But he was careful not to make any predictions that would come back to bite him. "Most of the senior cricketers probably are here on their last tour to Australia, so it's very important that we go back victorious. But not many people come here and go back victorious," he said. "We know that Australia is a tough opposition and I think we have the experience and the quality to go out there and do our best." Exactly how much experience and quality India will put on the field in the first Test is still up in the air. Virender Sehwag was a late addition to the squad and they are also keen to play Yuvraj Singh - if they can find a place for him in their strong batting line-up. Kumble was not concerned about chopping and changing an order that had been successful against England and Pakistan, although he was still unsure who would get a run in their only warm-up game, a three-day encounter against Victoria at the Junction Oval starting on Thursday. Kumble was at least confident that India's recent Test series victories against England and Pakistan had prepared them well, whereas Australia have had only two Tests against Sri Lanka since their Ashes triumph in 2006-07. "Australia is always tough whether they've played enough cricket or not," he said. "[but] in that sense, we are pretty well prepared. Brydon Coverdale is an editorial assistant at Cricinfo

[Prudent]

Beating Australia the ultimate prize: Kumble Indian captain Anil Kumble believes beating Australia in their backyard is the No.1 prize in world cricket and says the coming four-Test series is important for his side and country. India's 16-man squad arrived in Melbourne today to begin preparations for the series, which starts at the MCG on Boxing Day. India have never beaten Australia in a series at home, and face a massive test against Ricky Ponting's best side in the world. Kumble said beating Australia overseas would be a massive achievement for his side, and a great thrill for he and his fellow veterans Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid, Sourav Ganguly and VVS Laxman, who are unlikely to tour again. "It means a lot, we came pretty close to doing that the last time we came here (in 2003-04)," he said. "Leading up to the (final) Sydney Test match it was 1-1 and we did extremely well in the last Test series (to draw), so it's going to be very crucial for all of us. "Most of the senior cricketers are here on their last tour of Australia, so it's very important we go back victorious. "It means a lot to all of us in the team and also it means a lot to Indian cricket. "Not many teams have come here and gone home victorious, so it's a great opportunity for all of us and we look forward to that." http://www.smh.com.au/news/cricket/beating-australia-the-ultimate-prize-kumble/2007/12/18/1197740239729.html

[sandtest]

If we manage to Win this test series, I will proudly consider this as greater achievement than winning an ODI World-Cup.

[Sachinism]

it would be amazing, coz im sure its the last time quite a few of our stars will be visiting aus

[Predator_05]

Australia haven't lost at home since 1992/93. This truly is the final frontier for the "big 4" and for Kumble. Australia's stalwarts needed 4 tries to finally beat India in India - now on this tour, the Indians are currently on their 4th as well. I want them to do it. Guys like Tendulkar and Kumble have accomplished pretty much everything during their lengthy careers and this is one challenge which has eluded them from the very beginning.

[PaiN_KiLLeR]

The big 4 could not bring home the world cup to immortalize themselves in cricket history .... a series win in Australia would be next best thing. I am just hoping against hope... even drawing a series there seems to be a herculean task.

[DesiChap]

A Test series win in Australia (against the current Aus Team) is bigger than the world cup

[Chandan]

[h3]December 19 2007[/h3] [h2]Dhoni - India are ready for aggresive cricket.[/h2] Mahendra Singh Dhoni has warned Australia that India will not shy away from aggression during the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. "It will be interesting. They are famous for aggressive cricket and their temperament on the field. We are quite ready for it. We showed them it during the home series as well," Dhoni told NDTV. "I think it's not about the mind games that you play. I believe in playing good cricket on the ground and giving your 100 per cent and playing good aggressive cricket. And it is not about what you are saying or using media as one of the strategies to put pressure on the opponent." India vice-captain Dhoni admits the team have to adapt quickly to the bouncy conditions in Australia. "It is about playing good cricket and more about adaptability... You have to adopt quickly to the condition and you have to play according to the situation," he said. "We faced a lot of swing music when we went to England. Every country specialises in something and Australia is famous for bouncy tracks like England is for swing and India for spin bowling. So when you go to any country, the challenges that you face are different. You have to play well over a period of time and adapt quickly," he said. The 26-year-old says he is excited about his first tour Down Under. "I have played in most of the countries and now I am going to Australia. I think New Zealand is the only country left. It is very exciting because the cricket played there is very different," he said. "On my first tour I would love to do well. It is a new challenge for me and new responsibility for me and I am looking forward to it." -------------------------------- A good positive mind-frame, and I like it from the future captain of India.

[Chandan]

If required, I am ready to open: Dravid Melbourne (PTI:) Rahul Dravid on Thursday said he does not mind donning the role of an opener in the challenging four-Test series against Australia starting here on the Boxing Day. Dravid said he has no problem facing the new ball bowlers led by Brett Lee on the bouncy wickets. "If I am asked to open in the Test matches, I will be happy to do so," said Dravid after opening the innings with Wasim Jaffer on the opening day of the three-day warm-up match against Victoria. "I am comfortable doing any role that is given to me by the team management. I try and do the best I can, irrespective of where I bat," said Dravid, who had opened the innings for India on several occasions. In today's match, Dravid was unbeaten on 33 after two-and-a-half hours of batting when the rain came pouring down and building on to the start in the final session. "I just batted where the team management wanted me to," said Dravid who, to put things in perspective, has made just 369 runs from eight games at 33.55 as an opener, including two centuries against Pakistan on flat decks. As against this, he made in excess of 600 runs against Australia in four Tests, including a match-winning double century in Adelaide, when India last toured Down Under for the 2003-2004 series. ------------------------------------------------------- This is not a positive step by Indians.

[SachDan]

Mighty Positive Kumble. Weather has not been kind In an ideal situation, we should have had two lead-up games, writes Anil Kumble It’s the night of the second day of our tour opener here in Melbourne and I’m looking at the skies and thinking the weather hasn’t been very kind. We are slowly settling in after the rather frenetic pace of our departure from India and arrival here, thinking we would manage some breathing space and practice ahead of the Boxing Day Test, only to find that our only practice game is not really goin g to give us anything at all. Ideally, it would have been great if the weather had been kinder and we had had a good tour game but that was not to be. A look at the bowlers In fact, the whole purpose of my missing out on this game was to have a good look at the fast bowlers. I have not seen Pankaj Singh in the middle before and also wanted to have a look at the young Ishant, R.P. Singh, who is returning from an injury, and Irfan Pathan, who is making a comeback. Now I can’t do that. In an ideal situation, we should have had two lead-up games to see this through. There are two ways of looking at this. You can choose to think endlessly about why we didn’t have more time, why it was so rushed and worry about how this lack of practice will affect us come December 26, or you tell yourself that there’s no point in thinking about what should have been and instead maximise what’s available. That’s what I’m doing now and that’s what I’m suggesting everyone does. Doing the best So we’re doing the best we can, using the indoor facilities at the MCG to prepare ourselves everyday, talking to each other, watching videos of the Australian players to have as many plays as possible imprinted in our heads and generally trying to ensure that the four days we have left are put to the best possible use. In that sense, I think we’re okay. Our conversations have been interesting and will hopefully prove helpful. We had a meeting where we talked about all the positive things that came out of the last tour here in 2003-04. We’ve been talking to our young bowlers, and in the next couple of days, we’ll be talking to the batters also. Individually, we are talking to the people who haven’t been to Australia, telling them what to expect; telling them that it’s important to do well individually so that collectively we can do well as a team. Through this tour, obviously the toughest in contemporary cricket for more than one reason, I’ll also stress the importance of keeping a perspective on what’s happening on the field — that is vital to ensure you prepare yourself. http://www.hindu.com/2007/12/22/stories/2007122260371900.htm

[fineleg]

Excellent write up by AK. watching videos of the Australian players to have as many plays as possible imprinted in our heads and generally trying to ensure that the four days we have left are put to the best possible use. :thumbs_up: We’ve been talking to our young bowlers :thumbs_up:, and in the next couple of days, we’ll be talking to the batters also. Individually, we are talking to the people who haven’t been to Australia, telling them what to expect; telling them that it’s important to do well individually so that collectively we can do well as a team.

[Chandan]

We are better prepared now: Ganguly

At the same time, Tendulkar has reminded how the crunch schedule has thrown a spanner in their preparation: Indian master Sachin Tendulkar's call for timely breaks Jon Pierik December 23, 2007 12:00am CRICKET legend Sachin Tendulkar has called on authorities to trim a crowded international schedule after India's preparation for the Boxing Day Test was washed away. Melbourne's sudden wet means the tourists go into the biggest Test of the summer with only 48 overs of match practice after the final day of their three-day clash against Victoria was abandoned yesterday. A heavily congested international calendar gave the Indians only six days at home between finishing their home series against Pakistan and arriving in Australia for a 10-week tour. Their one and only lead-in clash to the four-Test series then began only two days after landing. Players worldwide have regularly complained about a television-generated schedule, and Tendulkar yesterday added his clout to the cause. "We can have more cricket but it's equally important to have more gaps in between the tours, to get some time to unwind yourself, spend some time with your family, assess what happened in the last Test series, work on certain things, then come to Australia or wherever," he said. "It's important to get some breaks in between. The international calendar is very tight. There is not much time to go back home and assess things. "That is how the calendar is, there is not much we can do about it. We started our season in May. It has been quite some time." While the tourists have come off a hard-fought home series win over Pakistan, they have been given no time to adjust to local bouncy conditions which have traditionally proved a problem. India has never won a Test series in Australia, but Tendulkar, who made 19 against the Bushrangers, said there would be no excuses if he left empty-handed for a fourth and final time. "We don't want to make excuses that we have not had enough practice," he said. "The guys have worked very hard. We are a happy unit and we have been working hard above and beyond batting and bowling, but also on our fitness and various departments. Mentally we are prepared." Tendulkar, who needs only 664 runs to pass Brian Lara's all-time Test record of 11,953, said a series win would be the highlight of his 18-year international career. The batting maestro has a strong record in Australia, averaging 54.15 with four tons in 12 Tests, and will counsel his teammates on how to handle an expected short-pitched attack from pacemen Brett Lee and Shaun Tait. "I think we just have to be a little more careful with our shot selection," he said. "Everyone is talented enough to adjust. How you pick and choose your shots is more important. "But I have scored some runs, all the batters have scored some runs." For all his individual brilliance, Tendulkar has not experienced team series success in this country. It is one of the things that drives him. "I think it would be the most important tour if we can pull it off. Beating Australia is obviously the ultimate thing because the way they have played for so many years makes it a special tour. Having come here four times, it would be a wonderful occasion." In Australia, where he averages 54.16, Tendulkar can escape the public crush that follows him at home in Bombay, but only to a point. In a team of stars, he attracts most of the adulation. "You have no option," he said. "If I can live up to my own expectations then I am doing a decent job." Tendulkar, 34, may be past his peak but he has experienced a kind of renaissance. The pain in his elbow has subsided and, in his words, he has rediscovered the joy of making runs. He does not feel old, whatever the critics say. "People have always had some opinions. Not necessarily have they been right. I continue to do my job. My job is to go out there and play cricket and score runs for India. That's what I have been trying to do," he said. "I am loving it. If you see my body language it has been great and every moment has been a treat. For the past 18 years I have been living my dream and every day is a special one. When we walk out on the 26th of December it will be a terrific occasion." -------------------------------------------------------- Looks like he understood his mistake during the practice match. I'm only concerned that our bowlers who really needed the practice were denied from bowling a single delivery.

[Chandan]

Chloe Saltau December 24, 2007 Expecting an onslaught … VVS Laxman gets in some much-needed practice yesterday. Photo: Vince Caligiuri AS ONE of Australia's chief tormentors over the past eight years, VVS Laxman has emphasised the importance of aggression if India is to succeed this summer, and he regards the Australian attack he's likely to face on Boxing Day as superior to the one he exploited four years ago. When India visited under the captaincy of Sourav Ganguly in 2003-04, Glenn McGrath (injury) and Shane Warne (suspension) were also missing from the Australian line-up, but Laxman believes their replacements will present a far greater challenge this time around. The former attack included Stuart MacGill, now injured, Nathan Bracken, now a one-day specialist, and Brad Williams, now forgotten. With an MCG pitch that has been low and slow all summer and that showed inconsistent grass coverage when the covers were removed after three days of constant rain yesterday, Brad Hogg appears all but assured of a Boxing Day berth. That leaves Mitchell Johnson and Shaun Tait to compete for the final pace spot. Both bowled flat out yesterday in front of selector Merv Hughes and bowling coach Troy Cooley in the MCG's indoor nets. Laxman, whose supple wrists wove centuries in Adelaide and Sydney on the last tour, knows how to succeed against the best team in the world, with 1457 runs at 52.03 in 16 Tests against the Australians - more than 10 runs above his career average. The 33-year-old is also coming off unbeaten scores of 72 and 112 in the just-completed series against Pakistan. But he is under no illusions about the size of the task confronting the tourists. "I wouldn't degrade bowlers like MacGill or Brad Williams who played and did well against us, but at the same time I think [the current Australian] attack has been a match-winning attack over the last six or eight months. I think it will be a challenge facing these guys," he said. Laxman was not part of the one-day team troubled by Hogg's googly during the one-day series in India recently, but he is one of the world's finest players of spin and will be a crucial player in India's quest to become the first touring team in 15 years to upset Australia in its own backyard. "I played him [Hogg] in 2003 and he is a different type of bowler. Everyone knows he is not an orthodox left-arm spinner and he's done really well in the one-dayers for Australia, and he has been a match-winner even though he is not talked about much," Laxman said. "It's very important to get used to his style of bowling … you have to make use of your experience when you have played him in the past." Laxman should bat at No.3 if, as expected, Rahul Dravid is promoted to open with Wasim Jaffer to accommodate Yuvraj Singh in the middle order. While he was not willing to discuss any weaknesses in the Australian team, he yesterday revealed an attitude every bit as significant as any technical adjustments made for the bouncier Australian wickets. In between all the video clips watched and plans hatched while the Indian team was trapped indoors this week, Anil Kumble's players reaffirmed that they will not allow themselves to be walked over by the Australians. "The most important thing is to play aggressive cricket against them. Whenever we have played aggressive cricket against them, we have done well," Laxman said. "The moment you give them a slight edge, they will walk over you, so it's important to go out and play your natural game of cricket, like we do. "[The aggression] is not necessarily [verbal]. Every individual will be different. It's how you play your cricket and especially in your mindset. If you have a lot of self-belief, I think you will do well in Australia." Laxman's remarks suggest that India's players under the leadership of the strong and unflappable leg spinner, Kumble, will continue to stand up to Australia as they did during October's one-day series in India, despite the fact that the theatrical Shantha Sreesanth, the main agent provocateur, is missing the tour with a shoulder injury. Nor will Australia back away from confrontation, judging by the words of coach Tim Nielsen ahead of his first Boxing Day Test in charge. "Without being silly about it, you expect and encourage your players to turn up and respond to the challenge, puff the chest out and go gung-ho for the contest," Nielsen said. "Whether that comes across as arrogant, we have to be careful. But we certainly don't want to be shrinking violets either, and let the game be dominated by the Indians or whoever we're playing against. "There is a fine line there between finding that aggressive competitiveness that we pride ourselves on and at the same time not going across the line of being silly, arrogant and putting on a poor show to the crowd or the press, who won't enjoy it too much."

[manoj_admlab]

Waugh turns Ganguly admirer indiatimes MELBOURNE, December 23: Long-time adversary Steve Waugh has turned full circle and is now a great admirer of Sourav Ganguly, now standing at the cusp of his 100th Test match. "You don't have to like or dislike him. You have to respect him," said the former Australian captain whose run-in with his then Indian counterpart took up reams of home pages and hours of prime time on television. "He's tough and has played for a long time. There are certain things that rub people up the wrong way but that's just him," Waugh added. Ganguly is set to play the 100th Test of his career at the MCG on Boxing Day, having come to Australia with back to back hundreds in his 98th and 99th Test. During the 2000-2001 series, Ganguly had infuriated Waugh by making him wait at the time of the toss; claiming to win tosses when he hadn't and launching a scathing attack on the Australian at the slightest provocation. "I think there were times when he pushed it a bit far with the toss. It was not only myself. The match referee warned him a number of times not to do it and he continued to do it." "That was a lack of respect. But that was his choice, fair enough. That's dead and buried now. But as a player he certainly is a very good player and it's a credit to him the way he has come back," he said. "Being dropped as a captain, in Australia that's a death sentence but in India they give you a chance to get back into the side. He has fought hard to get back in there and he is probably batting as well as he has ever batted. "That's great resilience, great resistance and that's a good example to the younger players." "He's the type of bloke you would want to have on your side. When you see an Indian side with Ganguly in the line-up, you know it's game on. Now in his probably the final tour of Australia, Waugh felt Ganguly would be difficult to dislodge and more determined than ever to leave the shores here with his reputation enhanced. "It surely is going to be at the back of his mind. He would try very hard to leave a good impression. He scored a brilliant hundred in Brisbane in 2000-2003 and would like to score a lot of runs in the present series." http://cricket.indiatimes.com/Waugh_turns_Ganguly_admirer_/articleshow/2645675.cms

[guju24]

'We'll have to play aggressive cricket' V V S Laxman said on Sunday that India must match Australia for attitude and aggression in the pursuit of their first series win in Australia. Laxman said attitude, rather than any particular strategy, would be key against the Australians in the opening Boxing Day Test at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. Australia have not lost a Test series at home for 14 years and have a reputation for crushing the confidence of their touring opponents. "The most important thing is you have to play aggressive cricket against them," Laxman told reporters on Sunday. "Whenever we've played aggressive cricket against them, we have done well ... you have to play to your potential. The moment you give them a slight edge, they'll walk over you, so it's important you just come out and play your natural game of cricket, like we do." he said. But Laxman said that did not have to extend to the verbal niggle that marked Australia's One-Day series in India two months ago. "It's not necessary, it depends on individuals. Every individual will be different, it's just how you play your cricket," he said. "Especially your mindset - if you've got a lot of self-belief, I think you'll do well in Australia." India have won just four Tests in eight Australian tours, but pushed Steve Waugh's Australians all the way in the drawn 1-1 last series tour here in 2003-04. Laxman plans to have a key role in the four-Test series. "All the batsmen are supposed to get runs, whenever we've done well abroad, our batting scored huge runs, especially in the first innings," he said. "I want to contribute in that and the most important thing is, play to the situation and try and play some match-winning knocks, which will help the team win the series." Laxman has scored 5,292 runs at 44.10 in 86 Tests. LET SEE IF LAXMAN CAN PROVE THIS... @cricketnext

[manoj_admlab]

Ganguly unfazed by promise of speed By Adam Cooper December 24,2007 http://www.foxsports.com.au/story/0,8659,22969399-23212,00.html MASTER protagonist Sourav Ganguly believes India are a better cricket side than when last in Australia and are the best-credentialled opponents for Ricky Ponting's No.1 side. The former captain was at provocative best when he claimed India's batsmen had no concerns entering the first Test at the MCG, starting Boxing Day, against an Australian attack minus the retired Glenn McGrath and Shane Warne. Ganguly said he and his fellow bats were unfazed by the current Australian attack led by Brett Lee, as the departure of takers of a combined 1271 wickets was a big void. He said although Lee was bowling well and that the others had earned their spots, India had readied with a recent crash course against Pakistan speedster Shoaib Akhtar. "It's not the first time that the top seven ... will be playing someone who bowls at 90 miles an hour (150 km/h)," he said. "We just played Shoaib Akhtar, who's probably the quickest bowler in the world, so they're used to playing and most of us have scored heaps of runs against fast bowling. "(Lee has) bowled well, he's doing well for himself and I wish him luck for the series, but I think we'll all stand up and do well against him." Ganguly was skipper when India won the famous 2001 series on the subcontinent 2-1 and then in the Australian summer of 2003-04, when the tourists retained the Border-Gavaskar Trophy with a 1-1 series draw. He said despite a world ranking of four, India were the best test Australia would get. "If you look at the record for the last five or six years, in Test cricket we have competed with them, beaten them, so its' going to be a good series," he said. "We know they're a tough side whether it's home or away, but we also have the side to play well. "The Australians realise, and I've been friends with a few of them, that we are the only team which competes with them better than any other team in the world. "That makes this series very interesting, but these verbals are part and parcel of sport." Ganguly was confident India were a better side than when last here. He said being relieved of the captaincy had allowed him to focus more on his own game, the tourists had a more-rounded bowling attack and that wicketkeeper Mahendra Singh Dhoni's reliability at No.7 gave them a deeper batting line-up. India's record away from home had also improved the past two years, he said, as India won a Test in South Africa and a series in the West Indies last year, and won series in Bangladesh and England in 2007. Ganguly has got under the skins of the Australians in recent years, and famously irritated Steve Waugh with his gamesmanship in 2001, although he stressed the pair was friends. He said although he believed actions spoke louder than words, he made no apologies for his previous ploys of showing up late for the toss and taunting his opponents. "Whatever has happened, it's in an effort to try to win Test matches," he said. Ganguly will become the sixth Indian player to reach the milestone of 100 matches, and said it was satisfying following Dilip Vengsarkar, Kapil Dev, Sachin Tendulkar, Anil Kumble and Rahul Dravid.

[Chandan]

Captain's column First day holds the key To beat Australia, you need to really beat them by seeing it through till the end, writes Anil Kumble We’re nearly there, at the beginning of what promises to be a tough, combative series and I can tell you that I’m pretty confident with the way the mood in the camp is. Although we haven’t had much practice in the middle, there’s a kind of collective quiet self-assurance about the team that is heartening. Having finally got a first look at the pitch, I’d have to say it looks a good surface. Interestingly enough, half of it looks a little bare, so if the weather is good and the sun does something different and shines, it would be to our advantage. Team not yet finalised At the risk of sounding confused, which I’m not, I’m going to say we haven’t decided about the combination yet and will have a look at it later. We still have over a day left to finally sit down and say, “this is it†and every minute is useful. Whatever we decide to do and whoever plays, one thing is certain: To beat Australia, you need to really beat them by seeing it through till the end. You might be in positions of strength at moments, in phases but the trick with the Aussies is that the moment you grab that window of opportunity and get on top, you really have to ensure you stay on top. The last time around, we were 329 for four at the end of Day 1 at MCG and then were bowled out for 366. So we’re looking at winning smaller, shorter sessions and then letting it all build into a bigger momentum. There is no choice here, Australia are the kind of team that keeps coming back at you; someone or the other picks up the mantle and takes it on from there if you let them get away. So you simply cannot let them get there. Bowlers in good rhythm Therefore, it’s also important we stay disciplined in our bowling spells. I think in terms of how we’ve been bowling in the nets, everyone looks in good rhythm. R.P. Singh and Zaheer Khan are looking good after recovering from injuries, the youngsters have keenly followed the analysis at team meetings to see what best lines to bowl and are adapting. They all realise that what makes the difference here is the first Test, it can give you the momentum or it could potentially debilitate you for the remainder of the series. More precisely, the first innings on the first day of the first Test. Boxing Day therefore, is where the games begin. The MCG, by the way, is looking great. The last time we played here, they were building the stands, now the atmosphere should be even better. The dressing rooms are as large as a football field and that is quite something. Finally though, whatever the atmosphere, the equations, the conditions, it all boils down to how you perform on a given day. In the run-up to this Test, we have told ourselves and the others who weren’t there about how it was in 2003-04, about how we nearly did what was considered the impossible in Sydney. About how finally, we went home after more than holding our own. The past has its place but now, it’s how you look ahead, how you lift yourself individually and collectively. One final chance This is probably the only chance that some of us senior players have to have a crack at the Aussies in Australia, so we’re going to give it our best. It’s great that in Sourav Ganguly, one of us will go into the Boxing Day Test wanting to make it extra special, this being a rare 100th Test for him. He’s been in the form of his life, so I’m hoping that he continues that form into this Test, for his sake and the team’s. We’re all going to try and better what we did last time. I believe we can do it. ------------------------------------------------- Another positive write-up by our skipper!!