Winter provides cold comfort for Indians

Winter provides cold comfort for Indians
AGENCIES

HOBART, DECEMBER 15: Indian officials threw the book at their beaten cricket team on Wednesday. After a 285-run thrashing by Australia in the first of a three-Test series, the Indian players were each given a book called The Psychology of Cricket, by Australian sports psychologist Graham Winter.

Coach Kapil Dev denied his side's confidence had been shattered by the heavy defeat but said an improved mental approach was required. ``A loss is a loss by either 100 or 285 runs. Of course, I was surprised. I didn't expect it. Cricket is one game where everything doesn't go by the book,'' Kapil Dev said.

He pledged that the second Test in Melbourne would witness an improved showing from the tourists. ``No two ways about that. The only thing is you can improve from this situation and you can bounce back. Looking at the positive side, what we gained in the Test was our bowling. The bowlers bowled a fabulous line and put the pressure back on Australia,'' Kapil said.

Meanwhile, Tasmania coach Greg Shipperdhas promised the Indians a tough match in their four-day match starting on Friday. ``We have young players who will relish the experience of playing an international side,'' said Shipperd, who has guided Tasmania to two domestic cricket finals in eight years as coach.

``This game will be important for people like Michael Divenuto and Dan Marsh, who should be pressing claims for higher honours,'' he added.

Tasmanian bowler Colin Miller will play only his second first class game in almost two months after being named in the state side to play the Indians.

Miller, 12th man in first Test, is keen for a bag of wickets to push his claims for inclusion in the squad for the next two Tests in Melbourne and Sydney.