Injury-hit Aussies stay confident
Saturday, 29 September 2007
BANGALORE, Sept 28 (BBC): Ricky Ponting has warned Mahendra Dhoni's celebrating India that Australia are determined to start the one-day series in Bangalore with a win.
The Australia captain said India would be under pressure after lifting the ICC World Twenty20 in South Africa and said his side would peform well.
Ponting said: "We have a talented side and have to apply pressure on the opposition all the time.
"We want to win every game we play and have a good record against India."
India beat Australia in an exciting Twenty20 semi-final in South Africa, but skipper Ponting said: "The Twenty20 win is great, but it's a thing of the past."
Dhoni hopes to add to his growing stature with a winning display against the 50-overs World Cup winners after his young squad returned home Wednesday from South Africa to a hero's welcome.
The wicket-keeper/batsman raised expectations in cricket-mad India with a memorable victory in his first tournament as captain.
Missing from Australia's Caribbean World Cup-winning squad are batsman Michael Hussey, fast bowlers Shaun Tait and Glenn McGrath, and all-rounder Shane Watson.
Paceman Nathan Bracken returned home from South Africa on compassionate leave to be with his wife as she prepares to give birth to their first child.
Tait, Hussey and Watson are all injured, while McGrath has retired.
India will also show changes, with experienced batsmen Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid and Sourav Ganguly all returning.
The Australia captain said India would be under pressure after lifting the ICC World Twenty20 in South Africa and said his side would peform well.
Ponting said: "We have a talented side and have to apply pressure on the opposition all the time.
"We want to win every game we play and have a good record against India."
India beat Australia in an exciting Twenty20 semi-final in South Africa, but skipper Ponting said: "The Twenty20 win is great, but it's a thing of the past."
Dhoni hopes to add to his growing stature with a winning display against the 50-overs World Cup winners after his young squad returned home Wednesday from South Africa to a hero's welcome.
The wicket-keeper/batsman raised expectations in cricket-mad India with a memorable victory in his first tournament as captain.
Missing from Australia's Caribbean World Cup-winning squad are batsman Michael Hussey, fast bowlers Shaun Tait and Glenn McGrath, and all-rounder Shane Watson.
Paceman Nathan Bracken returned home from South Africa on compassionate leave to be with his wife as she prepares to give birth to their first child.
Tait, Hussey and Watson are all injured, while McGrath has retired.
India will also show changes, with experienced batsmen Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid and Sourav Ganguly all returning.