By IANS,
New Delhi : Australia captain Ricky Ponting said his team was ready for the challenge to level the four-match series against India in the third Test starting here Wednesday at the Ferozeshah Kotla.
He said the three-day break following the record 320-run thrashing in the second Test in Mohali has helped the team to tighten up the loose spots.
After having a look at the pitch on the eve of the match Tuesday, Ponting sounded confident.
“We have prepared well for this match. It has been a good experience till now but no one likes to lose. But you have to learn from losing. Over the last week we have spent considerable time in thinking what we need to do,” Ponting told reporters Tuesday.
Australia have played with four pacers in the series so far, but Ponting indicated they could field two spinners on the turning Kotla track.
“The pitch looks like a very good surface to bat on. It is a very dry face and the first two days will help the batsmen. From the third day it will assist the spinners more. So, spin is definitely an option for us,” he said.
The Australian captain was well aware of the hosts’ impressive record here and also knows that Indian spinners might have the advantage.
“Having known about India and Anil Kumble’s past record on this ground, I think spinners will have a greater role to play so Jason (Krejza) is in with a chance to make his debut,” Ponting said.
For Australia, which heavily relied on its pace attack, fielding two spinners — offie Jason Krejza and and leggie Cameroon White — will be a surprise. The spinners got some advice from India’s spin legend Bishen Singh Bedi at the nets.
The skipper felt that the session with Bedi benefited the bowlers.
“We met him at a dinner party and suddenly the next day he was at the nets helping us. It was a good exposure for all the guys,” he said.
Ponting also had words of praise for White and termed him as an attacking bowler. He also said that medium pacer Peter Siddle will make way for Stuart Clark.