Kirsten to join team in mid January at third Test against Australia

Sydney, Dec 1 (UNI) Gary Kirsten, who will be formally announced as India's cricket coach next week, has confirmed that he would join Team India in Australia in the second half of January next year during the third Test and hoped that it would not distract the team.

''The reality is that I was approached quite late by the Indian board, and in accepting the job, I told them that I had commitments over Christmas and new year. But it looks like we are close to resolving that issue now, and I will join the team for the last two Tests,'' he told The Age from South Africa.

India will play four Tests in their Australian tour starting with the first Test on December 26 in Melbourne. The second Test starts on January 2 in Sydney while the third and fourth begin on Januray 16 and 24 in Perth and Adelaide.

The tourists will play one Twenty20 International against Australia before playing a tri-series, which will have Sri Lanka as the third team, from February 3 to March 7.

Kirsten said he had spoken to India Test captain Anil Kumble and he (Kumble) was comfortable with him joining midway the Test series.

''The last thing you want to do is come in and be a distraction, but I have spoken to Anil (Kumble) about my situation, and he is comfortable with me joining the tour later,'' Kirsten said.

''It will be a transition period. There might be a bit of media around me leaving, but after speaking with Anil, we don't think it will be a distraction.

''I will not be coming in and imposing my ideas on them. That would be wrong. Instead, I will try and blend in and help anyway I can.

''I take plenty of confidence from the fact they approached me, and obviously believe in what I can bring to the team. Over time, I will look to put some new ideas to the players, but I will not be doing that midway through the tour of Australia,'' Kirsten added.

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