We come good in big games: Ponting

Ponting

Nagpur: With a new stadium and a new track wrapped under secrecy, Australian captain Ricky Ponting is banking on his bowlers to deliver the goods in the fourth and final cricket Test against India starting Thursday at the newly constructed Vidarbha Cricket Association (VCA) Stadium here.

Australia are in a must-win situation as India lead the series 1-0.

"We need to look at the best bowling combination possible for us to take 20 wickets in this Test match. I have got full confidence in the bowlers. They are good enough to win us the Test," Ponting told reporters.

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After having a look at the wicket at VCA Stadium in the outskirts of the city, Ponting felt that the pitch will help the spinners and is considering to play rookie off-spinner Jason Krejza.

Ponting indicated that Krejza might replace leggie Cameron White or may go with spinners with one of the fast bowlers most likely Stuart Clark sitting out.

"Looking at the wicket, we have to consider playing Jason Krejza in this game. It looks like a very bare wicket that will probably spin later in the game. We have not decided on our bowling combination. I guess it will come down to one of the fast bowlers or Cameron White sitting out,," he said.

The Australian captain also said that India was bound to miss Gautam Gambhir, who has been in terrific form in the series with a century and double century. Gambhir has been banned for the Test for elbowing Shane Watson in the third Test in Delhi. He was surprised that Tamil Nadu's Murali Vijay was selected for the opener's slot ahead of seasoned Wasim Jaffer.

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"He (Gambhir) has played very well. He has been ruled out of this Test match. That will help us. Their opening batsmen (Virender) Sehwag and Gambhir, have got them good starts in almost every game."

"They have punished any loose bowling early on. With him not there, it creates a bit more of an opportunity for us and puts a little bit more pressure on the Indian middle-order," he said.

Ponting said that there are a lot of distractions for India in the run-up to the final Test but that won't affect the Australians.

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"Gambhir's issue, Laxman playing his 100th Test, Sourav playing his last Test, Anil retiring last week, a new captain taking over. There are a number of things the Indian players will be thinking about going into this game. But that's the least of our worries. We know what our job is at hand this week. We know we have to play better cricket if we want to level the series," he said.

He said that the drawn Test in Delhi has given his team the confidence to win here and level the series.

"Being one-nil down in a series with one match to play is a position that a lot of us haven't been in before. It is a very big Test match. We pride ourselves on playing well in big games, and this is certainly one," said Ponting.

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