Indians should focus on their own backyard: Nielsen

Melbourne, Feb 25 (UNI) Australian coach Tim Nielsen today said India should stop concerning themselves with Oz's behaviour and focus on their own performance as they try to secure a spot against the hosts in the CB Series finals.

Nielsen said he had no problem with the way his players were acting on the field.

''It's interesting how much the opposition teams are talking about what we're doing and at the moment as far as I can see we're the only team that's in the finals,'' Nielsen said here as the team gathered ahead of Tuesday's Allan Border Medal. ''It might be time for them to start looking in their own backyard.'' Indian spedster Ishant Sharma was fined 15 per cent of his match fee for an incident in which the pace bowler gave Andrew Symonds a send-off gesture after dismissing him for 59. Later, India's team management has sent a letter to the match referee about what it considers to be Australia's players provoking their opponents.

Nielsen said Ishant's actions were understandable given the pressure of the situation and he hopes India retain their fiery, spirited style of play. However, he wants players from both teams to ensure they do not cross the line if they meet in the finals; India will secure a place in the deciders if they beat Sri Lanka in Hobart on February 26.

''It's a difficult one because there is so much emotion going on,'' Nielsen said. ''(Ishant) was under pressure, Andrew was batting so well with Ricky (Ponting) that it's hard to take the adrenaline and emotion of the game at this level.'' ''We want to play good, strong competitive cricket and we encourage them to keep doing it. We'll do it as long as we all stay within the guidelines of it. You can't start taking into account it's been a tough, hard series and then give people some leeway because of it. We know where the line in the sand is,'' he added.

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