Rudra Pratap Singh reckons varying pace would be the key against Australia and the Uttar Pradesh left-arm pacer says he has developed a slower ball that would prove quite a handful for Ricky Ponting and his men when they arrive for a Test series in India next month.
RP says the Aussies would prove tough customer even when they are playing away and the surprise element should be there if a bowler has to succeed against them.
"As a preparation for the Australia series I am just concentrating on my basics," said RP, insisting he would otherwise like to keep things simple.
"But I am trying some new variations as well and have developed a new slower delivery," RP said on the sidelines of an interactive session with the students of Amity University in Noida on Wednesday.
"Besides, I'm also working on bouncers," he added.
The Indians will have to be at their best to thwart the Australians and they are likely to roll out dust-bowls against the visitors to suit their traditional spin strength.
RP, however, felt they can afford to play on lively pitches which would have something for the spinner as well.
"I would prefer lively pitches, which should be fair to all and make it an even contest between bat and ball," said RP, known as an intelligent bowler with a natural ability to swing the ball both ways.
India will have a decent pool of pacers to chose from for the four-match Test series against Australia and RP says the competition for the berths augurs well for the team.
"This healthy competition is good for Indian cricket. Personally too, you get to learn so many things. Even a senior bowler learns things from the youngsters, especially their mental approach," he said.
RP also stressed on the need for a strict fitness regime to restrict injuries to a minimum and keep going.
"Injury is a part of our life, we can't escape it. But if we follow a strict fitness regime and work on the trainer's instructions, we can at least reduce it," he said.
RP shares a good chemistry with his one day and Twenty20 captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni and the left-arm seamer is forthright about whom he wants to see as India's next Test captain.
"Anil Kumble is good captain, he has everything what it needs. But if somebody becomes the next Test captain, it will be Dhoni," RP said.
"Dhoni is a very thinking guy and is already captaining India in ODIs and Twenty20 with aplomb," he said.
