Chennai
India captain Anil Kumble expects the three-Test series with South
Africa beginning here Wednesday to be "challenging".
"We expect a challenging series," Kumble told reporters.
Sporting the new grey uniform of the Indian team, Kumble seemed a
bit tense in the company of coach Gary Kirsten as the duo addressed
the press ahead of the series.
Commenting on the pitch at the Chepauk stadium, he said: "It will
assist spinners from the second half of the second day".
"I inspected the pitch in the afternoon the team had a little bit of
fielding practice. It looks full of runs and will assist our
spinners," Kumble said.
Kumble and Kirsten downplayed suggestions of added advantage derived
out of the Indians' roping in the visitors' Mental Conditioning
Coach Paddy Upton at the last minute.
"With the advent of television, there are no secrets because
everybody is watching the opponents' game carefully," Kirsten
remarked.
"We have had only a single meeting (with Upton). Our players have
their own skills. We are aware of our strengths and are upbeat after
our good show in Australia," Kumble said almost on cue.
Reacting to reports of fissures amongst the home team on the basis
of seniority, Kumble snapped: "Can anyone dare say that there are
differences among journalists on the basis of their seniority
vis-à-vis their writings? Similarly, we are a mature, cohesive team
and play as one."
Local lad Dinesh Karthik will sit out as wicketkeeper-batsman
Mahendra Singh Dhoni has been declared fit, the skipper revealed.
Kumble refused to comment on the team's composition as weather
remains uncertain with rains that had marred an earlier outing
between the two teams at the same venue in 2005.
"We expect good weather and hope to give the cricket-savvy Chennai
crowd its money's worth. No decisions can be taken on the basis of
imponderables," Kumble added.
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