We are working on our weaknesses, says Chauhan

Indian team manager Chetan Chauhan told reporters after the practice session at the Eden Gardens today that the team had analysed the last game and had planned out certain strategies for the second Test against Australia starting in Kolkata on Sunday.

"We are hoping to do well at the Eden Gardens. We have discussed the last game in great detail and we are working on our weaknesses," Chauhan said. The former Indian opening batsman said the Australians had not been put under pressure during their last 16 Test victories and it remained to be seen how they performed when the chips were down.

"All we need is a break. It can change everything. Besides, the law of averages is bound to apply to the Australians," he said. Chauhan said the morale of the team was high despite the ten-wicket defeat in the first Test at Mumbai. "The boys are raring to go. They are all in good spirits and looking forward to the Test. Hopefully, we will do well," he said.

Asked whether Indian cricketers had other things on their mind apart from cricket, Chauhan said "they are all professionals. They are here to play cricket". Two other Indian batsmen Sadagopan Ramesh and VVS Laxman, who also addressed the press after the practice session, claimed that the team was "mentally and physically" as tough as the Aussies.

"We are also aggressive but we don't show our emotions. We try our best for the country, sometimes we don't succeed", Laxman said. Asked whether the Indian batsmen had made certain preparations for handling the Aussie bowlers after the debacle in Mumbai, Laxman said "All the Australian bowlers are very competent. It is a challenge facing them".

The two Indian batsmen denied that the team had turned complacent after having the visitors tottering at 99 for five in the Mumbai Test. "It is just that (Adam) Gilchrist and (Mathew) Hayden played an amazing innings which took the match away from us", the left handed Ramesh said.

Asked whether the team depended too much on Sachin Tendulkar, Sourav Ganguly and Rahul Dravid to score the runs with no significant contributions from the other batsmen, Laxman said "The three are top class batsmen. Obviously, there is a lot of responsibility on their shoulders. But all the batsmen go out and try their best".

Aussie leg spinner Shane Warne, speaking to the press after the practice session, said that the Australian team was capable of fulfilling its long cherished dream of a series win in India if it continued to play in the manner it did in Mumbai.

"If we can play the way we did at Mumbai, we can hope to win the Test series in India," Warne said. "We want to keep things rolling. The team has been playing well of late. Things are going on nicely for us. We want to clinch the series at the Eden Gardens," he said.

Asked whether he had worked out any particular strategy for the Indian batsmen, the ace leg spinner said "I bowled quite well in the first Test in Mumbai. I just want to carry on the good work here."

Warne, who was not very successful in his last tour of the country, said he enjoyed bowling to Indian batsmen as they played spinners well. "It is a challenge bowling to them. I just want to bowl well to them".

Warne said the Eden Gardens pitch looked flat and good for a Test match. "I have seen the wicket. It looks a good cricketing pitch. I think it will favour the batsmen but I expect a little turn towards the end."