Its going to be an intense series: Kirsten

Indian cricket coach Gary Kirsten on Friday said the upcoming four-test series between India and Australia is going to be competitive and intense.

Bangalore, Oct 3 : Indian cricket coach Gary Kirsten on Friday said the upcoming four-test series between India and Australia is going to be competitive and intense.

Speaking to the media today in Bangalore after the practice session Kirsten said the team is both balanced and experienced. He also asserted that the team has already proved its capacities.

He said India and Australia operate on a very high profile environment therefore the series would be intense to watch.

"It's going to be a very competitive series. The reason why people say its intense because you have two teams which are operating on a very high profile environment but I think both teams are fully aware of that and as I have said many times before also, we should really focus on our internal processes at the moment. Each guy is working internally quite extensively at the moment and making sure whatever is thrown at him, come the month of October," said Kirsten.

Describing the series as a mental battle, he said five bowlers and an extra seamer will be a good combination. However, also he made it clear that as the series unfolds the combinations will also change.

Commenting on the health of Virendra Sehwag, Kirsten said that there is no injury concern. Gary repeatedly stressed on the team building and said that victory against Australia will depend on the teams' efforts.

He explained that the focus is now on internal process and areas where the team needs to be improved are being worked out.

Selectors have retained former captain Saurav Ganguly in a 15-player squad named on Wednesday for the first two games of the four-test series against Australia starting on October 9.

Ganguly (36) had been under pressure to keep his place with the team's four veteran batting stalwarts, along with Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid and Vangipurappu Laxman.

The selectors have also included middle-order batsman Subramaniam Badrinath, who has played three one-dayers for India, and leg spinner Amit Mishra as back up for captain Anil Kumble and Harbhajan Singh.

The pair replaces batsman Rohit Sharma and left-arm spinner Pragyan Ojha from the side which lost the previous test series in Sri Lanka by 2-1.

Wicketkeeper Mahendra Singh Dhoni also returned for tests after skipping that series.

The first test will be played in Bangalore from October 9 with the second match of the four-match series starting in Mohali on October 17. New Delhi and Nagpur would stage the last two matches.

ANI