Srinath gears up to make an impact against Australia

NEW DELHI - Indian fast bowler Javagal Srinath said on Thursday he was prepared for the challenge of leading the attack against Australia in the home test series.

The 31-year-old, who will spearhead a largely inexperienced set of bowlers, also said he was not bothered by Indian pitches which are traditionally slow and offer low bounce.

"I have to focus on how to bowl to each individual batsman. We have done some homework on it at the camp," Srinath told Reuters by phone from the southern city of Bangalore.

"It's a good responsibility. (Anil) Kumble is not there, but the other five bowlers together have to do it, do what is best to win the match," he said. Leg-spinner Kumble, a proven matchwinner at home, has been ruled out of the series following shoulder surgery last month.

Srinath, who will play his 50th test when the series begins in Bombay on February 27, has taken 183 test wickets at an average of 29.84.

But he has managed only 28 in 10 matches against Australia at an expensive 42.60 runs per wicket.

Srinath's best test performance has come in India, eight for 86 against Pakistan in Calcutta two years ago.

Leg-spinner Narendra Hirwani, with 66 wickets from 17 tests, is the next most experienced among the six specialist bowlers chosen for the first test. Srinath said bowling on Indian pitches, which have traditionally not been regarded as helpful to pacemen, had its advantages.

"It is a learning process bowling on Indian wickets," Srinath said. "Like Australia, West Indies or South Africa, Indian wickets also have a few advantages for fast bowlers."

He said the lack of bounce in Indian pitches by itself could be a weapon. "Even lack of bounce can sometimes be disconcerting (for batsmen)," he said. Asked whether he always altered his bowling approach in India, he said: "It is not adjustments, it is being innovative."