India confident of success in South Africa

JOHANNESBURG, Nov 14 (Reuters) India's cricket team arrived in Johannesburg today confident of recording their first series win on South African soil.

India will play five one-day internationals and three tests on their fourth tour of South Africa, having failed to win a test or a limited-overs series on their previous visits, although they did reach the final of the 2003 World Cup.

''We are very excited about touring South Africa, despite our record here,'' captain Rahul Dravid told a media conference in Johannesburg today.

''I remember my first tour here in 1996 was a great learning experience against some great cricketers and hopefully this tour will spark off some of the young bowlers and batsmen we have in this squad.'' India have lost four of their nine tests in South Africa, drawing the other five, but Dravid said he always enjoyed touring the country.

The Indian captain said having a penetrative attack was the first priority on tour.

''To win consistently overseas you need to develop a squad that can take 20 wickets in all conditions, although you also need the batsmen to put the runs on the board.'' Coach Greg Chappell said both the test and one-day series were important to India.

''Our focus is on the one-dayers first because we still have some development to do towards the World Cup, but we haven't overlooked the test series to come and we will be very serious about that too,'' he added.

KUMBLE A COMPETITOR Veteran leg-spinner Anil Kumble has been recalled for the limited-overs matches that precede the tests and Chappell said this was because India were focusing on preparing for the World Cup in the West Indies next March.

''Anil Kumble is a wonderful competitor and a very successful bowler in both forms of the game. But to look after him for test cricket and to give some other spinners the opportunity to gain some experience, he hasn't been in the one-day squad recently.

''The selection panel know, however, that he will probably be required for the World Cup, where the pitches will be slow and will turn and he turns the ball away from the right-handers,'' Chappell added.

India will open their tour against South Africa A on Thursday and the first one-day international is in Johannesburg on Sunday, followed by matches in Durban, Cape Town and Port Elizabeth.

A 20/20 international in Johannesburg will be played on Dec. 1, before the final one-day international at Centurion two days later.

The Indians will then play a four-day match against South Africa A in Potchefstroom before the test series starts in Johannesburg on Dec. 15, with the other two tests being played in Durban and Cape Town in the traditional Boxing Day and New Year's time slots.

REUTERS AY BS1628