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We have to put Australia under pressure: Dhoni

Agencies

Posted online: Saturday , March 01, 2008 at 1343 hrs IST
      

Sydney, March 1:: Indian captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni reckons that the ‘best method’ to beat Australia in the cricket tri-series finals was to ‘put them under pressure’ and his young team was capable of turning the tables on the world champions.

"Australia is a side which likes to keep other teams under pressure. So the best method is to keep them under pressure. Fortunately, they have been under pressure in this series and it will be good if we can keep it that way," Dhoni said on the eve of the crucial match.

Dhoni said toss would be important in Sunday's first finals to be played under lights.

"Toss is important as teams would like to bat under the sun. Under the lights, it does a bit before it becomes a flat track again," he said.

Dhoni kept his cards close to his chest regarding team composition and generally talked in riddles, except while defending his youngsters.

The big question on everyone's lips was the final eleven given his penchant for five bowlers and reluctance to play Virender Sehwag in all the games.

"Sachin will open that's for sure. It's about his partner. Actually it's quite confusing whether to play five or four bowlers; to go into the game with 3-2 or 4-1 or 4 plus part-timers," he said.

Dhoni did not want to comment if he has evolved as captain and was flippant when asked if there was something about the Sydney water, as rival captain Ricky Ponting had said the other day, which was causing the bad blood to exist between the two teams.

"May be they should get a few samples of the water to the lab and get it tested. It doesn't make a difference to us anyway as we've been drinking mineral water," was the cryptic reply of Dhoni beneath a typically benign smile playing on his face.

The Indian skipper was asked if Matthew Hayden was rested in Friday's game, instead of being provided with practice before the finals, as a mark of punishment for his unprovoked remarks against Harbhajan Singh the other day.

"May be he was given break because he wanted to be in the boxing ring, he wanted to box," said Dhoni barely able to control his giggle as he offered his reply.

As for the possibility that his side could create history, Dhoni was again at his flippant best.

"I don't know about creating or not history but you become a part of history, whether for good or bad, once you play."

Dhoni has the rein of India's young brigade for sometime now but he did not want to comment if his captaincy has had a learning curve in the last few months.

"Too many things have happened as a captain for me to state in a short time of a press conference," said Dhoni, without pausing and reflecting on the question.

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team coposition
by Sunil Biradar on 2008-03-01 20:23:29.746833+05:30
They have to play Uttappa as an opener instead Sehwag. Uttappa should be asked to play his natural game. praveen kumar is a better bet in place of sree santh or Munaf because of his batting ability. So go in with praveen kumar, Sharma, Munaf/Sree santh, Bajji, and Pathan. There you can have two all rounders. Yuvraj and Tendul can do the 2nd spinner's job if required. Question now is between Sehwag and Uttappa. But I prefer uttappa because of his foot work which is impotent in Australian pitches.
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Good thinking and analysis
by Jolly on 2008-03-01 20:52:32.598564+05:30
I garee with your observations fully. Whenever India played Sreesanth in this tour, they lost the match effectively in his very first Two overs.
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stress
by HETUL on 2008-03-01 18:14:22.110103+05:30
I think indian team alwaz comes in gr8 form after winning a match no doubt thats true but to maintain that mental consistency is not , what learned by india. Also our bottom order batting line up is absolutely relishing but then too dont just give up in a situation to lose
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if possible to keep 4 bowler
by jeet kumar on 2008-03-01 17:42:05.779512+05:30
Every thing is possible in the one days game,but to achieve a new goal we have to gives lots of effort to achieve that ,but some times we lose the chance without properplanning.I m a student,I don't know what isur choice but if possible we should keep 4-bowler.because we have many part time bowler we can use them,many times parttime bowler give good result.so,by considering those points,we have to select our team.
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AUSSIES vs INDIANS
by sweety on 2008-03-01 17:29:21.32509+05:30
lankans defeated australians bcoz thats the crucial match for the lankans to play and win b4 leaving the aussies homeland anyways lankans have a good 50% of good batting line up and so is the contribution of the bowlers but thats not the do or die match for the aussies thats the do or rest match and so is the condition but who nos may be they may play firing cricket 2mrw bcoz they no very well when to play a game in which fashion so indiand need to be careful
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cricket
by R.SUNDAR on 2008-03-01 17:25:47.644838+05:30
good
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