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This is an archive article published on March 5, 1998

quot;Warne8217;s not the only bowlerquot;

Chennai, March 4: The Australians obviously don't want to be considered a one man bowling attack. Things don't begin and end with Shane Warn...

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Chennai, March 4: The Australians obviously don8217;t want to be considered a one man bowling attack. Things don8217;t begin and end with Shane Warne. At least Steve Bernard, the affable manager of the team is convinced of this.

8220;To depend only on Warne to take wickets would be a recipe for disaster,8221; he told reporters even as Mark Taylor and his men got ready for a net session at the MAC stadium on Wednesday. 8220;Reiffel is a handy bowler and so is Kasprowicz. We have a promising spinner in Robertson. Certainly we are not going to depend entirely on Warne to get the wickets for us,8221; he asserted.

Bernard, however, agreed readily with the view that the side was stronger in batting than in bowling. 8220;It8217;s been proved during the tour so far with the batsmen running into big scores.8221;

Bernard was of the view that too much should not be read of the defeat at the hands of Mumbai in the tour opener. 8220;You must remember that five or six players were having their first taste of cricket in the sub-continent. We alwaysknew that this would be a tough tour,8221; he said. 8220;Anyway there is no point in brooding over such things. The boys have learnt to put such things behind them and get on with the game.8221; He pointed out to the improved performance against the Board President8217;s XI at Vizag as proof of this.

Asked for his view on the wicket for the Test match, Bernard said he did not know much about Indian wickets but Steve Waugh, who has some experience of them, had told him that the pitch would hold firm at first and then take spin late in the game.

The Australians did not waste any time in getting to the stadium. They arrived from Vizag late in the morning and were at the ground within a few hours. They had a strenuous workout for about 2-1/2 hours.

The Indians had a three hour practice session in the morning. Later, talking to reporters, Indian captain Mohammed Azharuddin said the team8217;s goal was to start the Test series with a win at Chepauk.

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He said that a concerted team effort was a vital factor towards winningmatches and it was not just luck. 8220;One cannot win matches on luck alone,8221; he added.

On the pitch for the Test, Azhar said 8220;it is a good and fair wicket which could start taking turn from the third day.8221;

 

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