Bounce on Australian pitches will suit me: Raina
Ace batsman has plans to cement his place in Indian Test squad
LUCKNOW: Suresh Raina hopes to be an altogether different batsman when India tour Australia for a four-match Test series starting next month.
The left-hander says he has drawn up plans to execute against the Aussies.
“I have already chalked out my game plan, especially to handle bouncers. It’s a big opportunity for me to cement my place in the Test side too,” Raina told HT here on Monday.
“I have been batting well in the one-dayers and Twenty20. I don’t believe that I am unable to score runs off short-pitched deliveries,” said Raina who had notched up a century on Test debut against Sri Lanka in Colombo in 2010.
“The bounce on the Australian pitches suits me and I would love to tackle it,” he said.
He, however, admitted that his showing in the two practice games in Australia would be crucial. “If I do well, I will certainly get a chance to play in the Test match. I have 10-15 days to concentrate on my game plan.” “I have always been a positive cricketer. In recent days, I have learnt many things. I spent a lot of time with my coaches, colleagues in the UP team and analysed my own game,” the southpaw said, adding, “This process made me aware of what to do and what not do.”
Talking about the team for the Australia tour, Raina said it was a well-balanced side with many youngsters raring to go. “Undoubtedly, Australia are a very good side, but I believe the young India players are capable of competing well.”
RAINA DOES A DHONI
Following in the footsteps of Mahendra Singh Dhoni, Suresh Raina has become the second cricketer to be associated with the Hero Hockey India League (HHIL) after he was named as the co-owner of the Uttar Pradesh Wizards franchise on Monday.
Raina’s association with HHIL comes closely on the heels of Dhoni’s entry into the world of hockey after he recently became the co-owner of the Ranchi franchise and renamed it Ranchi Rays.
On his association with the team, Raina said he was he was “proud” to be associated with hockey, which boasts of rich history in the country.
“It is a memorable day for me because today I am immensely proud to be associated with the national sport of our country, hockey, by joining UP Wizards,” Raina said.
“Uttar Pradesh is a land of world class hockey players like Major Dhyan Chand, KD Singh Babu and many more to follow and since my sports college days in Lucknow, I have a lot of friends who are hockey players. I will make all possible endeavours and bring all sorts of support required for uplifting the game of hockey in the region,” he said.
The cricketer from Ghaziabad also took the occasion to congratulate the Indian hockey team for winning the gold medal at the Asian Games in Incheon after a hiatus of 16 years.
“On this occasion, I would also like to take the opportunity of congratulating the Indian hockey team for bringing laurels to our nation by winning gold in the Asian games after a span of sixteen years and qualifying directly to the Olympics,” Raina said.
Uttar Pradesh Wizards’ Abhijit Sarkar hoped that Raina ‘s association with the team will make hockey more popular in the state and will attract more fans. “We will achieve greater laurels and success in the sport of hockey in the coming years and we are committed to the development of sports at all levels in the country.”
TALKING ABOUT THE TEAM FOR THE AUSTRALIA TOUR, RAINA SAID IT WAS A WELLBALANCED SIDE WITH MANY YOUNGSTERS RARING TO GO. “UNDOUBTEDLY, AUSTRALIA ARE A VERY GOOD SIDE, BUT I BELIEVE THE YOUNG INDIA PLAYERS ARE CAPABLE OF COMPETING WELL