March 20, 2008	Thursday	Rabi-ul-Awwal 11, 1429

MUMBAI, March 19: New India coach Gary Kirsten wants his team to maintain the momentum gained in Australia when they face his native South Africa in the home Test series starting next week.

India lost a controversial four-Test series 2-1 in Australia but their performances lifted them to second place in the ICC Test rankings. India then beat the hosts 2-0 in the finals of the one-day tri-series.

“Say, we come home now and if this team can win a series against a team like South Africa, it would mean that the team is on the right road,” Kirsten told The Times of India on Wednesday.

“And that would be very much something I would like to assist this team in doing.”

Kirsten, 40, spent a few weeks with the team during the Test series in Australia but his first challenge as coach comes against South Africa.

“The South African team is very competitive. They are playing good cricket and they play well in India,” said Kirsten, a left-handed opening batsman who played over 100 Tests and one-dayers in the 1990-2000s.

“The reason why I say they will play well here is because I know how we used to prepare when we came here,” he said.—Reuters