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This is an archive article published on January 22, 2004

Ganguly 145;astute146; skipper: Buchanan

Australian coach John Buchanan has attributed the Indian team8217;s success in the ongoing tour to an 8216;astute8217; captain Saurav Gan...

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Australian coach John Buchanan has attributed the Indian team8217;s success in the ongoing tour to an 8216;astute8217; captain Saurav Ganguly, who plays mental games to prop up the confidence of his players at crucial junctures.

8220;I think Saurav played a pretty good mental game from the beginning of the Test series,8221; Buchanan said ahead of tomorrow8217;s triangular one-day series match between Australia and India at the Sydney Cricket Ground here.

8220;Whether it be with Brett Lee or with whomever it might be, the team or individual, I think he8217;s been pretty astute with the way he8217;s carried himself and carried his team through this whole series.

8220;That8217;s why they8217;re in the position they are in 8230; Because he8217;s given them either that confidence or ability to target the team or individuals at key times,8221; Buchanan said.

Buchanan, whose world beating side was given a run for its money by the Indians in the Test as well as the one-day series, also complimented the visiting batsmen for their tremendous success on the tour.

He said India8217;s batting line-up was one of the best to play against Australia during his reign and that it had been well led by Ganguly, who has publicly targetted pace sensation Brett Lee in the build-up to games.

8220;They8217;re playing some good cricket. And their top-order batting is, as we saw through the Test series, the key to their performance,8221; he said.

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Buchanan was confident that Lee8217;s positive attitude and love of for the game would help the fast bowler bounce back hard.

8220;He, like everybody, whether it be on the cricket field or elsewhere, would always love to be on an upper but you can8217;t be,8221; Buchanan said. 8220;He8217;s a person who enjoys life, he enjoys his cricket, he loves playing cricket and so we8217;ll see that.8221;

The Australian coach added that the other Australian quicks had been helping Lee out. 8220;He knows his specifics and we8217;ve talked about lengths .. In Hobart, I think one of the features down there was all the fast bowlers got together and were part of working with him.8221;

While Lee is certain to play tomorrow, his fast bowling partner Andy Bichel had an injury scare when he left the ground during fielding drills holding his left hand but Buchanan said it was nothing to worry about.

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8220;Bichel is fine. He had a good bowl this afternoon and he8217;s looking forward to being picked for the match.8221;

 

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