Kumble calls on batsmen to step up

Anil Kumble, India's Test captain, has said the batsmen must step up if India are to regain the Border-Gavaskar Trophy next month. India go into the four-Test series against Australia on the back of two poor series - against South Africa and Sri Lanka - but Kumble is confident that each of his players will lift his game for the high-profile contests.

"Whenever we've won at home it's the batsmen who have scored huge runs and that's the key," Kumble said on the eve of the Irani Trophy game between Delhi and Rest of India in Vadodara.

India's top six batsmen scored only three centuries among them in six Tests against South Africa and Sri Lanka. However Kumble said the series in Sri Lanka, which India lost 2-1, was a "one-off".

Australia won 2-1 when they last toured India in 2004-05 but only four members from their current squad have played Tests in the country before. "In the past every player has stepped up his game whenever we've played Australia," Kumble said. "We came close to winning in Australia and even in 2004 we lost out in Chennai on the last day due to rain.

"We have a great opportunity. They certainly lack experience in playing in India. Having said that, they are highly competitive team and are still No. 1. But we look at it as an opportunity to win the series. With the experience and skills that we have, we look to back that up with good performances to get the results."

Kumble hoped that Sachin Tendulkar, who averages 56 against Australia, would be fit for the series. "He is definitely a big player and he has done exceptionally well against Australia."