Concentrating on batting, lost confidence in my bowling: White

Saumojyoti S Choudhury

Bangalore, Feb 14 (PTI) He made his debut as aleg-spinning all-rounder but Australian Cameron White says hehas lost confidence in his bowling and has transformed into amiddle-order batsman.

White, who made his Test debut against India in Bangalorein 2008, said he has no time to get back to bowling as he isonly concentrating on polishing his batting skills.

"I am not bowling much to be honest. I am justconcentrating on my batting and enjoying that role. I will getback to bowling at some stage but at the moment justconcentrating on my batting," White said.

The 27-year-old Victorian last bowled in one-dayinternationals in a one-off match against Scotland in August2009.

"Just lost a bit of confidence as a bowler to be honest.

I didn''t feel as confident as probably what I should have. Ihaven''t bowled for a while in international cricket, that''sfor sure," he said.

White, however, has no doubts about his batting ability.

"I can bat anywhere from number three to number six orseven, which is what I have done in the past. If Ricky(Ponting) and Michael (Clarke) were resting, I am required tobat up the order and do well. At the same time when they arein the side, my role is to bat at five, bat through the middleovers and finish up the innings. I just depend on thesituation of the game," White said.

White has recently been appointed Australia''s Twenty20captain and also been a vital member of the team''s think-tank.

"It''s something I enjoy doing. Even when I am not thecaptain I have little bit to do with Ricky (Ponting) andMichael (Clarke) in just playing a support role with them andsometimes with the bowlers.

"I enjoy that role and I guess it''s just about helpingout the team and at the end of the day getting the best resultand wining. If I can help out, whether it''s batting, bowlingor fielding or a bit a cricket knowledge into getting theright result," he said.

With the World Cup being held in the sub-continent, Indiaare one of the favourites for the title and White said he wasnot surprised by the huge expectations of the Indian fans.

"It makes sense that Indians are favourites in their ownconditions. They''ve got very good players, got a balancedattack, couple of very good fast bowlers, some very goodspinners. They are a good side, so it makes sense that theyare favourites. But there are some other good teams who areplaying very well," he said.