Not only spin, India to test Australia with pace as well

Bangalore, Oct 3 (UNI) India team will not only test Australia with their spin duo of Harbhajan Singh and Anil Kumble, but the visitors will have to face an improved Indian pace attack, coach Gary Kirsten said here today.

India will take on Australia on October 9 at the M Chinnaswamy stadium in Bangalore.

Talking to mediapersons after winding up the five-day camp, Kirsten said, ''Yes, we have drawn the combination and we may also go in with fast bowlers. There will be seamers as well as spinners.

We have thought of different combinations and it would unfold as the series begins.'' He said the Indian team has good pace bowlers like Munaf Patel and Ishant Sharma who have improved a lot in recent times.

The coach was particularly impressed with Ishant's maturity and accuracy that he showed in the series against Sri Lanka.

The former South African coach further added that he was satisfied with the kind of preparation that the team has done before the Border-Gavaskar trophy begins.

However, Kirsten declined to say anything about the team selection. ''Now the team has been selected. We are really looking forward to assess the team against Australia and start focussing on individuals selected to play for India.

On the duration of the camp, Kirsten said ''there was enough time to put in as much as possible and even take rest as we did yesterday. To have a little bit of fun is a part of the process of team building. The team has really prepared well.'' When asked about formation of Australian team, he said ''I am not looking at Australia's format. We are focussing on our needs and what we have to do as a team is to identify the areas we have to play against and the areas we can exploit.

''We are more keen to focus on our strengths. We have done a lot of home work and implement our strategy in the field.

''Besides, lot of interactions would be done during the series.

It is going to be a competitive series and each individual has to understand the plan and make sure to perform well,'' he added.

UNI MSP RAR KN1934