Premium
This is an archive article published on October 3, 2008

We know the weak points of Aussies: Kirsten

Gary Kirsten said the Test series will be an intense 'mental battle' and the one to handle pressure better will win.

.

India coach Gary Kirsten said the Test series against Australia would be an intense 8220;mental battle8221; and a win will boil down to which of the two teams handle the high-pressure atmosphere better.

8220;Lot of the time in the series, it8217;s going to boil down to what happens in a pressure situation8221;, Kirsten said on the coming four-Test series against Ricky Pointing8217;s side. 8220;Who is going to be calmest in that pressure situation 8230; who8217;s going to back himself and believe in himself 8230; I think that8217;s what it8217;s going to boil down to8221;, Kirsten said.

The first Test begins at M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bangalore on October 9.

Kirsten said with the two teams almost evenly matched, the series promises to be nothing short of a cliffhanger. 8220;We know that Australians will be well prepared when they come and they would have done all the homework,8221; he said. But the Coach insisted that India is well-prepared to meet the Aussie challenge.

8220;If one takes into account the statistics over the last 20 Test matches between India and Australia, it can be seen India has got the best record against Australia of all the Test-playing nations,8221; he said.

Kirsten said the Indian team has got a 8220;good idea8221; of what they want to do against the Australians and how to match them.

Kirsten said India is focusing on identifying the strengths and weaknesses of the visiting side and indicated that Anil Kumble8217;s team has its game-plan ready.

Story continues below this ad

8220;Obviously, we have identified the areas that we need to be playing against this Australian side8230;what are the areas where we can exploit 8230; what are their strengths 8230; what are our strengths,8221; he said.

Kirsten said India has done a 8220;lot of homework8221; vis-agrave;-vis the Australian side and experimented with some of those game-plans in the five-day preparatory camp that concluded in Bangalore on Friday.

He said regardless of the conditions, the Indian team has got enough talent and experience to be able to win.

 

Latest Comment
Post Comment
Read Comments
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement