Dravid - 'there's no point getting overawed'

Rahul Dravid on the mighty Australians
They are the number one side and therein lies the opportunity for us. We have a chance to show we can compete, there's no point getting overawed. They are a tough side and if you are going to match them over a course of four-Test series, then you have got to have belief and confidence and fight through tough times. There would be tough days on the tour. Hopefully, we could keep our chin up and keep fighting right through the tour. I don't see it as a last frontier. Indeed, we have a lot of frontiers to cross. We have a lot of challenges to meet and we see this tour as one of those challenges. It's no different than any other tour. (Press Trust of India)

Shane Warne has a go at Ganguly even before the Tests have started
Short-pitched bowling is his major weakness ... I'm not surprised he is already struggling on the tour. He will have to overcome a lot of chin music to have a successful series. The first Test will be on a bouncy Gabba strip and Tugga (Steve Waugh) will have slips and gullies everywhere, because all of Ganguly's shots go through point or behind the wicket. Ganguly needs to show his team that no matter how hard it is against the short ball, you must hang in there and have a plan - either duck, hook or sway out of the way." (Press Trust of India)

John Wright backs Virender Sehwag to deliver the goods
We back Sehwag and respect his enormous ability. He is very strong and bright. The way he plays his game on fast and true pitches, he could give us a rousing start. We still rate him well but he obviously needs to find better form. Opening is a critical part of our success overseas. We hope we can improve in that area. If we can get through the first period, the middle order would have a chance. It is hugely important to us.(Press Trust of India)

Justin Langer wants to demoralise India
I'd really like to see the first over of the World Cup final. Zaheer Khan came out all pumped up and aggressive but within an over the momentum of the game had turned. Good body language and positive cricket is the key to winning any cricket match. Hopefully we'll get a psychological advantage when India walks in here and sees that grass on the wicket. It's something they're not used to. (Associated Press)

Ian Chappell thinks India have erred in not selecting Murali Kartik
Bowling Australia out cheaply could have been a more achievable ambition if the selectors had included left-arm orthodox spinner Murali Kartik. Not only is he a talented flight bowler, he also has a big heart and loves to compete. As a competitor he has the makings of another Anil Kumble but he suffers because either Sourav Ganguly doesn't rate leftarm orthodox spinners or he doesn't understand their worth.(Mid-Day)

Richard Hadlee tells the Indians not to expect miracles from Bruce Reid, their new bowling coach
Reid cannot do miracles with the Indian team which does not have a very good bowling strength. He can only work with whatever talent is available at his disposal. The only way the visitors can beat the Aussies during their Test series is by slowing down the Australian run rate and then improving upon it. The Australians try to score 350 to 400 runs per day so that by the third day of the Test match they will be ready for the killer punch. So the important thing for the Indians is to slow them down and make them earn every run. India's batting line-up is pretty good. So when batting, they should try to score runs quickly to get the psychological advantage over the Aussies. The Indians should think positively from the word go as the Aussies will make things tough for the visitors and if the Indians fail to take up the challenge then they will be beaten. (Press Trust of India)

Rod Marsh talks up Ricky Ponting
He can go as far as he wants to go because he has got the talent. Sometimes very specially talented cricketers never reach their full potential, but what they do is often good enough to make them outstanding players. At his best, if he did reach his full potential, there is no reason why he couldn't be like Bradman or Tendulkar and those sorts of people. (The Times of India)

Allan Border tells India to be positive, really positive
Spinners traditionally don't play a huge role in Brisbane but as Shane Warne has shown in the past, you could do your stuff on the fourth and fifth day. For that to happen, the Indians will need to take the Australians on to the final day, something a lot of visiting sides haven't done recently. They could do it if they play near to their potential as Australians are not used to being stretched. If that happens, spin bowlers could be decisive.

I think the Indians should look to take their four best bowlers in the game. If two of their best four are spinners, then so be it. They could also show themselves positive and aggressive by having five bowlers since Australians tend to rattle up a huge score and then put the opposition under pressure.(Press Trust of India)