“The key to winning any Test match is to score runs,” the Indian captain said before Tuesday’s training session. “If you have runs on the board, any team can get under pressure. That will be the major focus — put runs on the board, put pressure and get 20 wickets. We have the potential to get 20 wickets, I believe that.”
Australia are a quick-scoring side, and Kumble acknowledged the need to keep the runs down if the wickets didn’t come early. “We have plans for that,” he agreed. “We have the quality of bowlers to put it in the right areas consistently to keep them in check in case we don’t get the wickets. But I am positive that we will be able to do well here on this tour. I don’t see any reason why we can't win.”
The general consensus is that this Indian teams stands the best chance of all sides to have toured Australia to go back triumphant. “It’s a very important tour for all of us,” said the 37-year-old. “This definitely is my last tour of Australia with the Indian team. It will be special to go back from here with a victory. Everybody is aware of that. It is not just the senior players; even younger players coming here for the first time are really excited to do well. It's a challenge but I think we are all ready for it. We have a great chance to do well and get the right result. The mood and spirit is pretty good.”
Choosing to play his cards close to his chest, the Indian skipper refused to reveal either the team composition or the opening combination. “I need to have a look at the pitch and have a final call. I can’t divulge anything about team dynamics, it will be a team decision as regards who will open the batting. There is a case for playing two spinners, but it all depends on how the pitch looks. It is watered a little bit right now. It looks a good surface. There will be some movement early on, which is bound to happen.”
Good start
Kumble said it was essential to get off to a good start. “It is important, because of the nature of the series with back-to-back Test matches, to get the momentum early on. Having said that, in Test cricket, you still have time to catch up. But we would like to get into the right rhythm and momentum early on.”
Asked how he managed his bowling as a bowling captain, he replied, “I am first a bowler and then a captain. It is important for me to be a bowler first. Of course captaincy is on my mind when I am on the field, but I realise that I must primarily play my part as a bowler. Here, you definitely get a lot more bounce than in the sub-continent, if not turn. You need to make a subtle change, vary the pace a bit more. Here you need to be a bit more consistent in length.”