The whole 'playing in India' thing -- does it get to you as much as before?
I've never had a problem playing here, there are crowds sure, but they don't bother me, it felt good actually to be applauded each time I came on to bowl. So no, playing here wasn't hard last time, no reason why it should be so this time round.

And then there is Tendulkar...?
Yeah, Sachin, he was a handful last time, and he will be a challenge this time too, but like I said, this time I am not alone and besides, hopefully I have become an even better bowler between then and now. And anyway, this is about Australia versus India, it is not about me against Sachin. He is a great batsman, I admire him, but there are other blokes in your side who can bat a bit, we don't want to make the mistake of concentrating on Sachin alone.

Was there some technical reason why the Indians were able to play you so
easily last time? We heard something said about an injury...?
I don't want to make excuses, I don't need to make excuses for what happened last time. The Indian batsmen played me well, that is all there is to it. Hopefully, this time round it will be different, I will be trying to do things differently but for obvious reasons, I don't want to talk about it.

After that tour, the analysts said that the fact that you had to come in and bowl against well set batsmen was one reason you couldn't do well. Did you see that as a factor?
Yes, of course. It makes a difference, coming in to bowl with the board reading 50 for two or three, than if you are coming in at say 100 for none. I am an attacking bowler, and if I come on against well-set openers, I am forced into a more defensive style of bowling, which is contrary to my game, and that can make a difference. But that is not so much of a worry this time, we have the bowling to put pressure right from the start.

Steve Waugh has laid it on the line this time, with his statement that the 15 straight wins won't matter unless the team does well here. Does that add to the pressure on you?
Not really. Sure the team has goals and I am part of that effort, but speaking personally, this tour is just as tough or as easy as any other tour -- I don't have to prove anything to anyone any more, so there is no pressure on me, no way.

Colin Miller was telling us that your emergence has inspired a whole lot of young Aussies to take to spin bowling. How does it feel, being a role model?
As long as they pick up the right things to follow, mate, I can't complain can I? Yeah, if we are developing a lot of spinners now, that has to be good for us.

They say spinners like to hunt in pairs -- in that sense, how vital is it having Miller bowling at the other end?
Yeah, helps always to have a good bowler keeping the pressure up at the other end. But I don't know about spinners hunting in pairs, in the past, I have had to bowl in tandem with pace bowlers and that was okay too -- it ain't about what kind of bowler is at the other end, it is about keeping up the pressure at both ends and any combination of bowlers who can do that is good enough.

You were seen as the captain in waiting, but thanks to controversies, you seem to be out of the reckoning...?
I don't want to talk about any of those controversies. I am content to be part of the side.

The emergence of a rival in Stuart McGill -- how much does that affect you?
Not at all. McGill is a very good bowler, he does his thing and I do mine. I am not concerned with who else is bowling -- if I am picked to play, I do my best, and that is all there is to it, I am past having to prove anything to anyone.

Australian player profiles

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