Early wickets pressurise Aussies: Zaheer

NAGPUR: India's pace spearhead Zaheer Khan said the key in restricting the rampaging Australian batting line-up in the sixth and penultimate one-day on Sunday was to get early wickets and put pressure on the visitors.

"We need to get early wickets to make inroads and put pressure on them. We did that at Chandigarh. There's no reason why we can't do it tomorrow," said the Mumbai-based left-arm pacer ahead of India's do-or-die tie.

"We have to stay positive. Each game is a fresh one. We got early breakthroughs in the first two games. Getting early wickets is important," said Zaheer who has had a torrid run in the series with only five wickets to his credit in as many ties at a high cost of 271 runs.

Australia were 2 for 18 in the series opener at Bangalore and 2 for 8 in the second tie at Kochi, but on both these occasions recovered brilliantly to notch scores above 300.

The tourists are leading the rubber 3-1 and a victory here will help them wrap up the series ahead of the last tie at Mumbai on October 17.

But Zaheer did not think that the surfeit of left arm pace bowlers in the Indian attack, with RP Singh and Irfan Pathan completing the trio, was too one-dimensional as all of them were different types of bowlers.

"As a left arm bowlers we give different angles to the right handed batsmen. We have three and it's good. I don't think that the attack is without variety as all three of us have different styles of bowling. Even if we were all right-handers, we can provide variations," Zaheer said.

The Indian bowlers have clearly struggled against the attacking tourists who have registered two plus-300 totals and two others close to that mark in the first four matches.

However, Zaheer had a different take on the matter by saying that the attack had gelled well, indicated by their early success in the first two games.

Zaheer also did not think that bowling to the towering Australian opener Matthew Hayden was any different to bowling to others.

"He's a good batsman and his height is an advantage for him. But as a bowler it needs just one ball to get a batsman out," he declared.

Hayden has been in terrific form in the rubber, notching up scores of 34, 75, 60 and 92 and 29 in the first five matches and has looked in imperious touch.

On how to confront Andrew Symonds, another scourge of the Indian attack with scores of 7, 87, 89 and 75 under his belt in the first four ties, Zaheer said that before getting to him the bowlers had to get the others early.

"We need to get the others early before we bowl to him. Early breakthroughs are important. Then we can make inroads," he said.

Zaheer was not concerned much about the wicket prepared for Sunday's tie by the Vidarbha Cricket Association stadium's curator.

"Too much is being made about the wickets. It does not matter what kind of wicket is there. We have to go out and perform," Zaheer said.

Zaheer, who got a three-week break after returning from the tour of England and was not part of the triumphant Twenty20 World Championship team, was thankful for the stay away from cricket which he said had helped him recharge his batteries.

"The three-week break helped in recharging my batteries. A long season lays ahead after the 12 One-dayers (five to follow against Pakistan) with the Tests coming up."

"It's important to focus on recovery, by getting into a routine. I have come back strong after taking some time off from cricket", he added.