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'I don't have a magic wand', says Ganguly

India's new cricket captain, Sourav Ganguly admitted on Monday that he had no immediate cure for the nation's dwindling fortunes, and urged fans to have patience.

"I don't have a magic wand," the stylish left-hander told reporters. "A captain is, after all, only as good as the team under him. "The only thing I can promise is that I will do my best. I urge fans to have patience."

Ganguly takes over from master batsman Sachin Tendulkar, who voluntarily decided to step down after the coming second and final Test against South Africa in Bangalore.

Ganguly will lead India in the five-match one-day series against the tourists, besides the three-nation tournament in Sharjah against Pakistan and South Africa from March 22.

A longer reign is assured for the 27-year-old since his closest rival, Ajay Jadeja, is battling poor form and has not found a place in the team for the second Test.

Indian cricket is reeling from a string of recent defeats, the most glaring being the three-day loss to South Africa in the first Test at Bombay last week.

That defeat came on the heels of their disastrous two-month tour of Australia, where India were blanked 3-0 in the Test series and lost seven of the eight one-dayers.

South Africa now threaten to ruin India's 13-year unbeaten record in a home series -- although even that landmark rests on a mere technicality. Pakistan won two of the three Tests in India last year, but the third game at Calcutta was billed as the opening match of the inaugural Asian Test championships.

Ganguly said he was confident India could stem the tide.

"We just need one win and it will turn things around for us," he said. "We have not played good cricket for three months now, but the team as an entity is a good one."

Ganguly's apppointment was hailed by both coach Kapil Dev and his predecessor Tendulkar.

"Sourav is conscious of the responsibility and would do a decent job," Tendulkar said, but refused to offer any advice. "He has captained India before and know what needs to be done. I am not surprised he was made captain. I did not expect anyone else to get the job."

Kapil said Ganguly was a "thinking cricketer who will settle down well in the job."

Ganguly immediately sought more powers in picking the playing eleven, rather than leaving it to the selectors.

"Once the 14-member team is selected, it should be left to the captain and coach to choose the final eleven," Ganguly said.

He brushed aside queries on the return of former captain Mohammad Azharuddin to the team for the first time after the World Cup in England last June.

"That's the past. He's back in the team and let's put the past behind," Ganguly said about the reported resistance by Tendulkar and Kapil Dev to Azharuddin's comeback. "Azhar has a job to do, he is a good wristy batsman and fielder," the captain-designate said about the 37-year-old former captain.