Sourav Ganguly does not really freeze at the prospect of facing on-field taunts
when he travels Australia later this year and the former captain asserts
the Indian squad is mature enough to handle such hostile reception Down Under.
Australia's recent tour of India earlier this year was both marked and
marred by on-field aggression from both sides that often threatened to spill
over the limits.
Ganguly believes Australia might like to continue the war of
words but insists India would not be cowered.
"That is not a worry for us," a nonchalant Ganguly
was quoted as saying by the 'Sunday Telegraph'.
"What happened in India for me is in the past, but for
Australia, maybe not. They will try to pressure us and they may say some things
but we have many senior players who can handle that," said the left-hander,
whose belligerent attitude as the captain had got him the goat of former Aussie
skipper Steve Waugh and his teammates.
Ganguly said, thanks to the team composition, India stood a
good chance of doing well in the leadership of Anil Kumble when they
tour Down Under.
He pointed out that it was, most likely, going to be the last
tour of Australia for a host of players like him, Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul
Dravid, VVS Laxman, Kumble and Murali Kartik and they would
give their best to make it memorable.
"This is a motivation. A number of guys will not be back
to Australia, so we want to play good cricket," he said.
|