'We're not going to rest any players': Ponting
Ricky Ponting couldn't hide his pleasure at returning to cricket after a forced break due to a thumb injury, while Rahul Dravid was far more subdued on the eve of the final Test
S Rajesh in Mumbai
02-Nov-2004
Ricky Ponting couldn't hide his pleasure at returning to cricket
after a forced break due to a thumb injury, while Rahul Dravid was far
more subdued on the eve of the final Test. Here's what they had to say
in the pre-match press conference:
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Rahul Dravid
Motivating the players at this stage
I really hope that everyone understands that it's a Test match and we have a lot to play for. I don't think I need to motivate anyone, because I really think everyone's up for it. [But] just being up for it and being motivated doesn't necessarily mean you'll play well. At Nagpur we were quite keen to do well but couldn't quite execute the plans and skills which I think are going to be very important here.
I really hope that everyone understands that it's a Test match and we have a lot to play for. I don't think I need to motivate anyone, because I really think everyone's up for it. [But] just being up for it and being motivated doesn't necessarily mean you'll play well. At Nagpur we were quite keen to do well but couldn't quite execute the plans and skills which I think are going to be very important here.
The approach to this game
Obviously we can't win the series here but we have a lot to play for. It's nice to have some new faces in the side, and we hope to make them feel comfortable and [that] they'll be the spark the team needs.
Obviously we can't win the series here but we have a lot to play for. It's nice to have some new faces in the side, and we hope to make them feel comfortable and [that] they'll be the spark the team needs.
Who will be selected
We've spoken to the selectors and the team management. We decided that out of the fourteen, SS Paul and Dheeraj Jhadav won't be playing.
We've spoken to the selectors and the team management. We decided that out of the fourteen, SS Paul and Dheeraj Jhadav won't be playing.
On whether the pitch makes India comfortable
I don't think any wicket makes you comfortable or uncomfortable until you've really played on it. It really does not matter what the surface is. A lot of times you look at surfaces and think they [will] play a particular way and they turn out to be completely different. We'll have a look at it tomorrow and decide on [our] combination, execute our skills and play good cricket.
I don't think any wicket makes you comfortable or uncomfortable until you've really played on it. It really does not matter what the surface is. A lot of times you look at surfaces and think they [will] play a particular way and they turn out to be completely different. We'll have a look at it tomorrow and decide on [our] combination, execute our skills and play good cricket.
On Sachin Tendulkar opening the bowling
If we decide to go with three spinners then we'll have to use Sachin to open with the new ball. That'll probably be our only option, but that hasn't been decided yet. We'll have to decide between Ashish Nehra and the third spinner.
If we decide to go with three spinners then we'll have to use Sachin to open with the new ball. That'll probably be our only option, but that hasn't been decided yet. We'll have to decide between Ashish Nehra and the third spinner.
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Ricky Ponting
The team for the Test
We haven't decided on the team at all. We have a few things to think about obviously with the wicket. [Glenn] McGrath hasn't bowled over the last two days because he's had a flu-type of thing, and also Kasprowicz. But Michael was down here today and he had a good bowl.
We haven't decided on the team at all. We have a few things to think about obviously with the wicket. [Glenn] McGrath hasn't bowled over the last two days because he's had a flu-type of thing, and also Kasprowicz. But Michael was down here today and he had a good bowl.
On motivational difficulties after winning the series
I think one of the great strengths of this side is that individual players pretty much motivate themselves. We've taken it relatively easy with our training over the last two days. We feel that our skills aren't going to get any better than they are at this stage. It's been more about getting mentally fresh and prepared for the next challenge.
I think one of the great strengths of this side is that individual players pretty much motivate themselves. We've taken it relatively easy with our training over the last two days. We feel that our skills aren't going to get any better than they are at this stage. It's been more about getting mentally fresh and prepared for the next challenge.
The nature of the pitch
The wicket's very dry. It's going to spin quite a bit. Because it is so dry I think the seamers will play a part. I think the ball might go through the surface later in the game. So that's where we are at the moment: whether to play two or three spinners or whether to play two or three seamers.
The wicket's very dry. It's going to spin quite a bit. Because it is so dry I think the seamers will play a part. I think the ball might go through the surface later in the game. So that's where we are at the moment: whether to play two or three spinners or whether to play two or three seamers.
On Brett Lee's participation
There's a chance that Brett could play. He's worked extremely hard right through this tour. If you ask him he's fitter now than he's ever been in his career, and he's dying to get an opportunity.
There's a chance that Brett could play. He's worked extremely hard right through this tour. If you ask him he's fitter now than he's ever been in his career, and he's dying to get an opportunity.
The likelihood of young blood playing with the series in the
bag
We're certainly not going to rest any players or anything like that. We're going to pick the best team that we think suit the conditions here. We'll sleep on that tonight, and make that announcement in the morning.
We're certainly not going to rest any players or anything like that. We're going to pick the best team that we think suit the conditions here. We'll sleep on that tonight, and make that announcement in the morning.
How off-field activities help
We enjoy ourselves as much as we can away from the game. We're all very good mates, and when you are playing as much cricket as we are at the moment, it's important you have other things away from the game to take your mind away from it. Most of our players do have that. It's probably been documented over this tour, with Matthew Hayden's cooking and Brett Lee with his guitar playing.
We enjoy ourselves as much as we can away from the game. We're all very good mates, and when you are playing as much cricket as we are at the moment, it's important you have other things away from the game to take your mind away from it. Most of our players do have that. It's probably been documented over this tour, with Matthew Hayden's cooking and Brett Lee with his guitar playing.
The pressure of touring India
There's been no pressure on us to perform. Looking back to the last Test match, I think you could see they were under pressure. And I think they'll feel the pressure has been lifted off them slightly, going into his game. It's a win-win situation for them.
There's been no pressure on us to perform. Looking back to the last Test match, I think you could see they were under pressure. And I think they'll feel the pressure has been lifted off them slightly, going into his game. It's a win-win situation for them.
What made the difference
Our ability to maintain pressure over a longer period of time. There's no doubt that that's what our whole bowling plan revolved around, particularly with our faster bowlers bowling very tight disciplined lines, and setting fields for that. India have done it on occasions this series, but not for the length of time that we have, and that's what it takes to win Test matches.
Our ability to maintain pressure over a longer period of time. There's no doubt that that's what our whole bowling plan revolved around, particularly with our faster bowlers bowling very tight disciplined lines, and setting fields for that. India have done it on occasions this series, but not for the length of time that we have, and that's what it takes to win Test matches.
His own record in India not being too good
That's what made not being around for the first few Tests disappointing. I've got maybe two chances in this game to score some runs. I'm looking forward to the challenge, and it's going to be great to take the field. So I'll have a big smile on my face all day long.
That's what made not being around for the first few Tests disappointing. I've got maybe two chances in this game to score some runs. I'm looking forward to the challenge, and it's going to be great to take the field. So I'll have a big smile on my face all day long.
On Tendulkar's return
Just having him in the team helps a lot of their batsmen. He's been around a long time, in a lot of different situations, and you can see that when he's batting: he communicates a lot with the batsmen out there, and they didn't have that in the first couple of games.
Just having him in the team helps a lot of their batsmen. He's been around a long time, in a lot of different situations, and you can see that when he's batting: he communicates a lot with the batsmen out there, and they didn't have that in the first couple of games.
After the final frontier, what next?
One of the strengths of our side is every time we come to training, individual players try and improve one percent all the time. They try something different at training, try and make themselves better players.
One of the strengths of our side is every time we come to training, individual players try and improve one percent all the time. They try something different at training, try and make themselves better players.
On weather conditions in Bombay
It's a lot more humid here than it was down there [at Nagpur]. The guys are all quite acclimatised. The toughest game they had was the one at Chennai. Looking at the weather forecast I think it's going to be 35 degrees for the game and quite sticky out there.
It's a lot more humid here than it was down there [at Nagpur]. The guys are all quite acclimatised. The toughest game they had was the one at Chennai. Looking at the weather forecast I think it's going to be 35 degrees for the game and quite sticky out there.