India captain Rahul Dravid has a simple formula that can help his team beat the formidable Australians: play your best cricket and sustain the intensity right through the game.
But he admits it is easier said than done and cites the example of the West Indies, who started in blazing fashion in the opening match of the DLF Cup tri-series but could not sustain the tempo till the end.
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"To win against Australia you have to be at the top of your game, throughout the game. We can't afford to dominate a part of the game and relax for the rest," Dravid said on the eve of India's encounter against the Aussies in Kuala Lumpur on Friday.
Dravid said Yuvraj Singh, who was forced to sit out for the first match against the West Indies because of fever, has recovered and is available for selection.
"He is fully fit and should be there tomorrow," he said.
Dravid rued the inclement weather, which disrupted the teams' practice sessions on Friday.
The Indians have been at the receiving end of bad weather recently. Their visit to Sri Lanka last month was hit by torrential rain and they returned home without playing a match.
In Kuala Lumpur on Thursday, the weather gods robbed them of possible victory.
After India had posted a huge 309 for 5, rain forced the match to be called off after 20 overs in the West Indies innings. The Caribbeans were declared winners by the Duckworth-Lewis method.
"It is frustrating but one has no control over this; there is nothing much you can do about it," Dravid said.
"We batted very well, but we can't contain rain. We have to accept and move on. These things are beyond our control."
On the need for handling the middle overs better, Dravid said, "We need players with power, with creativity, who can play on slow wicket to exploit the overs once the field restrictions are lifted."
He added that Yuvraj could do it and Dhoni too could be good.
"Viru (Virender Sewag) could also build a strong middle over."
Dravid refused to confirm whether he would open the innings with Sachin Tendulkar.
"Nothing is written in stone; there has to be flexibility," he said.
Referring to the depression in the pitch on Thursday, he said, "I base my decision based on what I see."
He dismissed any notion of "pitch tampering", saying, "What is that, never heard of that. It is a new word."
