Gambhir: Tables will be turned in India

 

Brian McKenna
Monday 23 January 2012 01:00 GMT
Comments
Gautam Gambhir thinks Australia will struggle in the subcontinent
Gautam Gambhir thinks Australia will struggle in the subcontinent (AFP)

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

The India opener Gautam Gambhir has criticised Australia's batsmen ahead of the fourth Test, which starts in Adelaide tomorrow. Gambhir said the Australians would struggle on the spin-friendly pitches of the subcontinent, and accused Australia of tailoring pitches to suit their young pace attack.

Australia hold an unassailable 3-0 lead ahead of the final Test of the series after a dominant performance in the third Test in Perth, which was won by an innings and 37 runs inside three days. Despite India attempting to stop a horrible run of seven away Test defeats, including a 4-0 series loss to England last year, Gambhir predicted that conditions will be different when they tour India next year.

"We're beginning to realise that when we go overseas, every country prepares wickets according to their own strengths," Gambhir said. "We need to prepare according to our advantage as well. There should not be a lot of talk when Australia, South Africa and England come home that we should not be preparing turners.

"So once these people come to India, I think that we should not be hesitant in making turners. That's when we will get to know whether they're mentally strong. The kind of chit-chat they do when we go overseas and talk about our techniques, that's when they will be tested and see how good they are against spin bowling."

Gambhir played down suggestions that Sachin Tendulkar's quest to score his 100th international hundred has served as a distraction for the Indian team this tour.

"When you are playing for your country you don't think about individual records or what one individual has to do," Gambhir said. "Zero-three is far more hurting than Sachin not scoring his hundred. If we can make it three-one, even if Sachin doesn't score a hundred, it's far more satisfying."

Earlier, the Australian batsman Mike Hussey responded to claims that he was considering retirement and said that he hopes to be selected for the tour of the West Indies in March and the Twenty20 World Cup in September, although the 36-year-old's main focus is on helping Australia secure a 4-0 whitewash of the No 2-ranked Indians.

"I'm looking forward to this match," he said. "I haven't looked beyond that at all at this stage. But my body feels good and I still feel like I'm playing well. I'm definitely thinking of continuing on. I'd love to go to the West Indies."

Hussey is averaging over 80 and scored 150 not out in the second Test.

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in