Ponting blames lack of confidence for flop show in India

Hyderabad, Oct 7 (UNI) Australian captain Ricky Ponting has blamed a lack of confidence in his batting technique for his insipid performance during previous tours to India.

Ponting has scored more than 10,000 Test runs at an impressive average of 58.37 but his form in India has been unusually poor.

In the eight Test matches he has played in India so far, Ponting has a dismal average of just 12.29.

The 33-year-old believes a lack of self-belief in Indian conditions was to blame.

''The reason for my poor performance was that I didn't trust myself; I didn't trust my technique,'' Ponting said. ''I was always trying to find a different way to play, fearing that one delivery I guess. I ended up getting stumped, caught at bat-pad sweeping. I almost tried everything and nothing worked. Every time I tried something, I got out pretty soon after. They are the lessons to be learnt I guess from coming here.'' However, the Australian skipper is determined to set the record straight during the current tour. He did reasonably well during the four-day match against the Board President's XI, notching up a half-century in his second innings.

He has talked to former India coach Greg Chappell, who is the assistant coach of the Australian squad as well as with his teammates, and claims to have found the magic mantra for success in the upcoming Test series.

''I have spoken to a lot of guys this week about working out a style of playing you think is going to work for you ... and when you have worked it out, making sure you stick to it,'' he stated.

''Even if you do get out a couple of times early, you know that if you stick to those things that have worked for you in the past, some will go your way and you will end up scoring some runs. I have to be strong and stick to what I know is going to work.'' UNI XC AB ND1214