Sreesanth aims for five-for at home ground

Indian fast bowler Sreesanth, who took three wickets in the rain abandoned first ODI against Australia in Bangalore, is aiming for a a five-wicket haul on his home ground in Kochi.

"My ambition is to take five wickets in the match in my home ground where I did my training all through," Sreesanth told PTI, adding that he would like to emulate Sachin Tendulkar's bowling feats at the venue. "Sachin bhai has achieved it here twice. I would love to achieve the same."

Sreesanth, who has dismissed Matthew Hayden twice in succession, the first occassion being the charged-up semi-final of the ICC World Twenty20, downplayed the importance of his wicket. "Hayden is a good batsman. But he is not the only batsman in the Aussie team. All the wickets in any match are important. We are not scared [of the Australian team]. [But] outside the ground we are friends and we respect all."

Sreesanth's aggressive methods, which resulted in him being docked 25% of his match fee for excessive appealing in India's semi-final win over Australia, could once again be on display in the Kochi match after recent comments made by the Indian team manager Lalchand Rajput.

"We have to give it back to them [Australia]. The strategy is clear. If they throw stones, they'll get them back. We'll fight fire with fire," Rajput told Mid-Day, the Mumbai-based tabloid. "The Aussies' tactic is to keep chatting and unsettle the opposition. But we have decided that if anyone says something, they will get it back. However, there should be no physical contact."

However, Rajput stressed that the team should not get carried away. "There are clear instructions to stay focused. The players should say whatever they want to as long as they don't get carried away because that would mean playing into the Aussies' hands."

The match itself appears in doubt owing to a wet outfield. The teams couldn't get a full game at Bangalore and the rain appears to be following them. Two days before the game the outfield at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium were slippery and parts of the playing area covered with sand. The pitch though, has been unaffected by the conditions and will favour batting if the match takes place.