'I'm essentially a bowler who can bat' - Pathan

Irfan Pathan has said he can be good allrounder but he sees himself as a bowler who can bat. "I'm happy to be able to contribute with the bat," Pathan told the Times of India. At the end of the day, if you have scored runs for your team, it helps your bowling to a great extent. I'm grateful to God for giving me the chance to score that hundred against Pakistan. I really cherished the moment."

"An allrounder takes wickets and scores runs regularly, so it is important to be consistent with the bat. As of now, I have to work harder on my batting to be called an allrounder."

Pathan was happy with his bowling form and was confident that the wickets will come soon. "I'm a very confident bowler now. The results might not show that, but I know for sure that I'm bowling well. If I'm able to continue the good work, the wickets will come. It is important to know your strengths and weaknesses. Once you know your limitations, you are in a good position to analyse your action. My one-day form has helped my cause."

Pathan said he is looking forward to play in Australia, where he made his Test debut in 2003 in Adelaide. "You can say that I grew up in international cricket in Australia ... that series helped me understand the nuances of bowling at the highest level. I know how the Australian wickets will behave. In Australia, I just need to pitch the ball in the right areas. When it is new, the Kookaburra ball swings more than the SG ball. But you need the right grip and technique to move the ball effectively."

He lauded the contribution of the bowling coach Venkatesh Prasad. "He is of great help, not just to me, but to everyone in the team. He boosts our confidence every time we take the field. Most importantly, he has played a lot of cricket for India and his knowledge is very useful. He analyses everyone and discusses nitty-gritty with the bowlers. We are glad to have someone like him with the team."

Pathan was hopeful of India's chances in the upcoming series. "We have a balanced team. Our batting is strong and our bowlers are capable of taking 20 wickets. All the Australian batsmen are aggressive. I enjoy playing against them and there is no particular batsman I see as a threat."