Australia set off for tough Indian tour

SYDNEY // The Australia captain Ricky Ponting is confident his new-look squad are up to the task awaiting them on their four-Test tour of India. Ponting labelled the highly-anticipated tour a 'great challenge' for his inexperienced side and conceded he himself feels like a new arrival following an eight-week absence after wrist surgery. Ponting is also hopeful the injection of fresh faces will not bring an end to Australia's recent good record on the sub-continent.

"They've [India] got an experienced side and they'll play their conditions well," he said. "But the flip side is whenever we've toured the sub-continent in the last 10 years we've played and held our very high standards that we've had in most other conditions around the world. "I know the build-up once we get there is going to be massive, it's up to us to make sure that we don't let anybody down."

Ponting conceded not entering the series as favourites is a little strange, but said his side's approach will not be altered "We just try and play the best we can and try to turn situations into winning ones," he said. * PA Sport