Ishant Sharma to 'go for the kill' in Australia

A tour to Australia holds a special place in pace bowler Ishant Sharma's career. Not only is he the senior-most player in Team India in terms of both number of Test matches and number of years, he was also baptised by fire during the 2007-08 tour of Australia at the historic old WACA stadium in Perth.

India is set to take on Australia in three T20Is, four Tests and 3 ODIs this winter, starting November 21.

Touring Australia for the fourth time since that eventful tour, the tall pace bowler from Delhi will be looking to make it his most memorable one as India takes on a chastened as well as a possibly weakened home side in the upcoming Border-Gavaskar Trophy. The current Indian pace attack is at its incisive best and has carried its weight in gold even as the batsmen have failed to respond in equal measure consistently on away tours to South Africa and England in recent times.

Sharma put some valuable game time under his belt before leaving for Australia, turning up for his home team Delhi against Himachal Pradesh in what was the first match of the Ranji Trophy this season. He bowled 28 overs and took four wickets on an unresponsive Feroz Shah wicket but most importantly his presence boosted the team's confidence as he played a mentor's role to the bowling unit. The current phase of Sharma's career is perhaps his finest in terms of his bowling. The swing was always there but his effectivity with the new ball has improved in recent years, as he was earlier with the old ball and perhaps at his lethal best currently against left-handers.

Speaking post match on the eve of Team India's s departure to to Australia, Sharma maintained that Australia may be a weaker side sans Steve Smith and David Warner but nevertheless were a tough opposition to take on especially at home. He also shared his anguish on not being considered for shorter formats by Team India but said that he preferred to focus on on his Test bowling than get distracted by what was not in his control. He felt that he was more mature as a bowler now and that was reflecting in his on-field performances, too. Excerpts:

You got quite a few overs under your belt in the Delhi vs Himachal Pradesh Ranji match. How do you feel about your fitness?

I am feeling pretty good. I am pretty happy with the way I gave my 100 per cent in this game. I didn't want to check anything about my fitness. I was fit and that's why I played. Whenever I am available, I try to play for Delhi.

Your thoughts on the upcoming series against Australia.

I will try to bowl like I did in England. In Australia, it's not only the players who are tough; even the crowd is tough on you. When there so many things against you, it makes you a tough cricketer.

Do you think Australia sans Steve Smith and David Warner is a much weaker side to take on and India's best chance to win the series Down Under?

Yes, eventually. Records show that 60 per cent of their scoring was done by Smith and Warner. But obviously whoever is getting selected for their country would be performing in their first-class cricket. So, we will try and win this series in Australia.

I don't think about all these things. I always go for the kill. You won't get a second chance. I am 30 right now. (By the time) the next tour (to Australia comes), I will be 34 and you never know whether I will be there or not. So, I will give my best.

Isn't this the best opportunity for India to shed its 'poor traveller' tag?

To be very honest, we are not concerned about what tag we get. As a team we give 100 per cent. Once you go in, you don't care about what others are talking. You are the only one facing the situation, going through hard times. The only people who support you are your teammates. We just take care of each other.

How frustrating is it for bowlers when they are taking 20 wickets in a Test match but batsmen are not finishing matches?

Cricket is team sport. I am not the kind of person who compares batting with bowling. No one is hurt more than us when we don't win matches because we are the ones playing on the field, representing the country.

Talking about conditions—how have they changed since the time you first toured Australia?

Conditions are tough everywhere. If you are playing a long series like five Tests, I think your fitness also comes into the picture. As you know, only if you clear the Yo-Yo test, you can be in the team. Everyone is fit and raring to go.

Would you describe this as your best phase as a bowler?

I don't think I can comment on that. Yes, I can say I am much more mature as a bowler now. I know my field setting more now, and how to bowl according to different situations.

As you grow old, there's a lot of wear and tear in your body but it's more about your mental state. If you are fit enough and in good mindset, you can say your are in a good bowling phase.

How much does it hurt to be not part of Team India in the shorter format?

Of course it feels bad that I am not part of the ODI team. I want to play for my country. But there is only so much you can control and I don't want to think too much about things I cannot control. Because too many negative things affects my Test performance. I try to focus on the format I am playing.

Australian cricket and the team is undergoing a churn and they had a culture review recently. You think you will be facing a quieter Australian team than ever before?

I don't know. We will find out when we get there. Generally, you don't expect them to be very friendly. Cricket is a sport, and you will get a tough opposition and conditions. You should be up for any challenge.

You are mentoring both Team India and Delhi bowlers. How do you look at this role?

I share my experience. I can set the field and tell them which lengths to bowl on particular tracks. Once the younger lot becomes senior, they should also then guide the juniors. I am not that kind of senior who says negative things to juniors like 'why have you done that'. I am a senior who should set different benchmark for my juniors.