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Ganguly wants to thrash Aussies
M. Chhaya in Kolkata |
July 10, 2003 13:43 IST
Indian captain Sourav Ganguly has chosen his birthday present. Celebrating his 31st birthday on Tuesday, Ganguly said his best birthday gift could be a comprehensive win against Australia to avenge the World Cup final defeat.
"To beat the Australians on their home turf would be my best birthday gift," he told rediff.com
"We must do well in Australia because that will be our real test. The Australians are mentally tough, but we are prepared," Ganguly said.
His team had a more positive attitude than the last Indian squad that toured Down Under, he pointed out.
"The World Cup has given us great confidence."
Taking a rare three-month break from cricket after the World Cup, Ganguly reopened Australia's scars from the 2001 series, which they lost in India.
"The victory in the Eden Gardens Test (in which India followed on and yet managed to pull off an exciting win) remains my best birthday gift to date."
"Defeating Australia in Australia can only better it," the flamboyant southpaw said, hinting that the pain from the loss in the World Cup final at the Wanderers in South Africa was still fresh.
India tours Australia in December, but the Aussies will play in a limited-overs triangular tournament against Ganguly's boys and New Zealand in India in October.
"We will aim to exploit their vulnerability on Indian tracks as we did in 2001. The Aussies will remember they did not play well in India. They lost in 2001."