Melbourne : Ending all speculations, veteran India batsman V.V.S. Laxman Friday said pacers Zaheer Khan and Ishant Sharma are “fully fit and raring to go” in the Boxing Day Test starting Monday at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG).
“Ishant was not available for the first warm up, but he bowled in Canberra and the way he bowled today at the nets was proof that they are both fit and raring to go,” Laxman said.
The two bowlers were seen bowling full tilt without displaying any sort of discomfort at the MCG nets here Friday.
On India’s chances of breaking the 64-year drought of winning a Test series in Australia, Laxman said: “There’s been a lot of talk on whether this is our best chance to win here. But whenever we take a flight to anywhere, we go in with the belief that we can win with the kind of talent and potential that we have and it will not be be any different this time around.”
“Winning in Australia is everyone’s dream in the world. Not just India but across the world because when you play Australia in Australia, it is the toughest cricket that you can play.”
Zaheer was also buoyant about his fitness and said the four-month break since undergoing an ankle surgery in London has helped him to prepare better for the four-Test series.
“Because I had a four-month break, I could prepare well for the series. In the past, it used to be at the end of the season that I would go to Australia and break down. We (along with physios) chalked out this plan. So far I’ve been achieving the milestones about 8-10 days before they were delivered,” Zaheer said.
IANS
