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Spin strategy India hopes to exploit turning wickets vs. Australia
Updated: Tuesday February 20, 2001 11:10 AM
BOMBAY, India (AP) -- Indian selectors announced Tuesday the team that would take on Australia in the test series and said a spin bowling combination was the key to tackling the touring side. The Indian team includes Saurav Ganguly (captain), Sadagopan Ramesh, Shivsunder Das, Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid, VVS Laxman, Hemang Badani, Jawagal Srinath, Ajit Agarkar, Nayan Mongia (wicketkeeper), Zaheer Khan, Rahul Sanghvi, Harbajan Singh and Narendra Hirwani. "The selection committee feels that playing more spinners, having a spin combination, will give us a chance against the Aussies," said Chandu Borde, chairman of India's national selection committee. India opens the test series against Australia in Bombay on February 27. The choice of leg spinner Narendra Hirwani, 32, who returns to the test side after the 1995 series against New Zealand, was on the recommendation of captain Ganguly and coach John Wright, Borde said. "We were informed that Hirwani was bowling quite well and after seeing the Aussies play, we thought an experienced leg spinner would be useful," Borde said. The Indian squad now features leg spinner Hirwani, along with off spinner Harbajan Singh and left arm spinner Rahul Sanghvi in his test debut. "We will decide whether to pack the side with batsmen or go for an all-out spin attack on the eve of the Bombay test," Borde said. The Australians play three tests and five one day internationals over a two-month tour of India. Earlier, at a team news conference, leg spinner Shane Warne and pacer Glenn McGrath said humid weather and slower Indian pitches made it tougher to beat India at home. "It is one of toughest challenges in world cricket to beat India in India. I've learnt a lot from the last series," he said. India won the 1997-98 series 2-1. "This team is a different team with a very different attitude ... and under Steve Waugh the team has a very positive approach," Warne said. When asked about the controversy surrounding his losing the vice-captaincy, Warne said, "It was disappointing to lose the vice-captaincy. But I simply keep playing and give my best. I'm enjoying my cricket." Pacer McGrath said he would prefer to bowl shorter spells due to hot and humid Indian conditions. "Under home conditions, the Indians will be comfortable and it will be all the more difficult to get them out," said McGrath. "The key to success is patience on Indian wickets. I can't go flat out as in Australia." Strategic thinking BOMBAY (Reuters) -- Australian captain Steve Waugh said Tuesday his team had devised a strategy for each Indian player. "We do have a strategy for each player, we're working on it now," Waugh said. But Waugh, aiming to extend his team's world record of 15 successive test victories, said the focus would be more on how his bowlers should bowl to the home batsmen. Waugh did not say if he had any special plan for top Indian batsman Sachin Tendulkar, who dominated the Australian bowling in India's 2-1 test series victory three years ago. "We have minor plans for each player. The series does not ride on the back of any one player so you can't peg it (your game) on that player," he said. Waugh told reporters his immediate goal was to win the three-test series and score his first test century on Indian soil. "I'd like to score a hundred in India and lead the Australian side to victory," Waugh, who has been on test tours to India three times before, said. Australia has not won a test series in India since Bill Lawry led his team to a 3-1 win in 1969. Waugh said he was not trying to outdo his predecessor Mark Taylor's record. "Mark Taylor did a great job. I don't like to chase any previous records. I just want to be the best I can be. I'm not trying to outdo anyone else," he said. But Waugh, 35, said being captain was an important phase in his career. "I'm enjoying it. When I finish with Australian cricket or when they finish with me I want Australian cricket to be in a really good state," he said. Waugh said mental toughness was important to perform well. "You got to be mentally strong and up to the challenge and prepared... practising well is also a part of mental toughness. "We are professionals. We help each other." Asked what made Australia the world's best cricket team, Waugh said: "We enjoy ourselves, we enjoy the cricket and we enjoy each other's company. "And we work hard. We respect each other and enjoy each other's success. I don't think a lot of teams do that." Australia begins its second three-day tour game against national champion Bombay on Thursday.
Reuters contributed to this report.
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