Follow on not enforced to deny Ganguly practice, says Buchanan

Australian coach John Buchanan on Thursday said his world-beating cricket team, which has won 16 Tests in a row, was making good progress on capturing what has been described as its 'last frontier' - that of beating India at home - and would go all out for a win in the second Test starting in Kolkata on Sunday.

"We are moving in the right direction," Buchanan told reporters after their three-day match against Board President's XI ended in a draw in New Delhi. He added "This match was a crucial point in this series. We came into this game looking for some batting practice... and I am happy that a couple of batsmen had solid hitouts."

The Australians made 451 and 461 for seven in their two innings with Ricky Ponting scoring a century in both and Steve Waugh and Mark Waugh also coming up with a hundred each. "We will try to build pressure right from the first ball in the second Test at Kolkata and try to increase our authority," he added.

Buchanan said vice-captain Adam Gilchrist, who did not play in the three-day match here due to a hip strain, was recovering and would be available for the Kolkata Test. "He had a few days off and there are still two days to go for the Test. I hope he would be 100 per cent fit by then." He added that Gilchrist's replacement Brad Haddin, who was flown in from Australia to play this match, would accompany the team to Kolkata from where he will fly back once Gilchrist starts playing.

Buchanan conceded that the Aussies did not enforce the follow-on to deny the Indian captain Sourav Ganguly to get batting practice. "Obviously it was important for us not to let him make a big score," the Aussie coach said.

He said he wasn't 'particularly worried' with the form of Justin Langer, who has struggled on this tour after scoring a century in the tour opener three-dayer in Nagpur, and hoped that the batsman would come good in Kolkata. "It would obviously have been better (if he had scored some more runs)... (but) he spent some good time in the centre. He must enjoy the next couple of days," Buchanan said. The Aussies have already won the first Test at Mumbai to take a 1-0 lead in the three-Test series.