Sydney, Jan 30 (IANS) India batsman Suresh Raina Monday promised a better performance in the limited overs contest Down Under beginning with their first T20 International against Australia here Wednesday.
India will play two Twenty20 internationals against Australia before the tri-series, also involving Sri Lanka, that starts Feb 5. The second Twenty20 will be played in Melbourne, Friday.
Raina said the mood in the side remained positive despite the 0-4 thrashing in the Test series, adding that the “new boys” are passionate to do well in Australia.
“The motivation is good,” Raina told reporters here at the ANZ stadium, the venue for the first of the two T20 matches.
“We haven’t done well in the Tests, but there is a passion inside to do well. Andar kuch karne ki tamanna hai (there is a burning desire inside to achieve something).
“We have worked hard. The new boys have been playing a lot of first-class cricket and we have done well in internationals too. It will be a good challenge for the youngsters and we are ready,” he said of the T20 side that has seven changes from the Test side.
When asked about his expectations from the series, Raina said: “The one-dayers and Twenty20 games will go differently to how the Tests went. Hopefully, we will give you positive results. In the World Cup we beat Australia in the quarter-final and hopefully we will do well against them again.”
Raina stressed on the importance of fielding well in the shorter format.
“Fielding is going to be a big factor. We have to take brilliant catches, effect brilliant run-outs. We have to bat till the end and we have good all-rounders. They can hit the ball as well as take wickets. We have good variation bowlers like Irfan Pathan, Vinay Kumar and PK (Praveen Kumar). They have been bowling really well. Hopefully, you will see good performances from them.”
On his preparation for the series, Raina said: “I went to the National Cricket Academy in Bangalore, then practised in Bombay. I am working on my wrist position and have been practising on bouncy wickets.”
