"I've worked harder on my batting than on my wicket-keeping on this tour. Batting is what's going to be important. It's not as if keeping is not important for me but I'm working more on batting at present," Kaarthick said.
The Tamil Nadu batsman said he was ready to face the English pace attack on conditions favourable to them.
"You can't open in international cricket without playing fast bowling. I think I've done it pretty well so far. I got runs in the side games and I have solid defensive techniques," he said.
Kaarthick said he was preparing mentally to do both duties - opening and keeping. "It is going to be difficult doing both, no doubt about it. At the end of the day, if the team management wants me to open as well keep wickets, I will. I've done it in domestic cricket, so I just need to be mentally prepared for it."
Kaarthick, however, said he was not neglecting his wicket-keeping skills. "You've to find time to keep. I've always been a 'keeper - I kept in Ireland, second innings in Sussex. I feel good about it. But keeping has always come naturally to me, I'm lucky that way."
He said watching the ball closely is the best way to keep well in English conditions. "You have to watch the ball closely as it tends to wobble after it passes the stumps."