Need to put Aussies under early pressure, says Zaheer Khan

Nagpur, Oct 13 (UNI) Indian team members are in a positive frame of mind and are gelling well as a unit, said pace spearhead Zaheer Khan here today.

Speaking to the media at the pre-match press conference, the left arm seamer said that the players had already forgotten about the loss at Vadodara and are looking forward to playing well and giving their 100 per cent tomorrow. ''As long as you give your 100 per cent then it is okay,'' he said, adding that every match was a new one and the team was geared up for the challenge from the Aussies.

On the way to beat the Australians, Zaheer said that it was important to put the Australians under pressure from the start of the game. ''We managed to do that in Chandigarh and everybody saw the result there. We will try and do the same over here,'' he said.

On the plans and strategies they will use for the Australian batsmen, Zaheer said that it was important to get early breakthroughs. He refused to divulge any more details, saying that it is for only within the team and not something to be discussed in the media.

Zaheer also denied that having three left arm seamers in the side made the bowling attack look predictable. ''Though we have three left arm seamers, our styles our different and also we use different variations, so it is okay.'' On the wickets which are provided in the sub-continent, Zaheer admitted that the wickets were more in favour of the batsmen, ''but then you have to be able to bowl on any type of wickets and do your job that is of getting a breakthrough for the team.'' Speaking about himself, Zaheer said that the three-week break he got after the England tour had done him a world of good and allowed him to recharge his batteries. ''I could get away from cricket for sometime and just concentrate on doing my own thing which has made me fresher for the season,'' he stated.

He said that his main focus now was on maintaining his fitness and following the fitness routine given to him so that he could stay fit and bowl long spells in the coming season which is a long and arduous one.

When asked whether the Indian team was also following a rotation policy when it came to addressing press conference, Zaheer in a lighter vein said that it was important for everyone to face the media, therefore, each one of them was coming to address the media to get used to facing bouncers from the media.

UNI