Insisting that his team is wellprepared for the four-Test series, England captain Alastair Cook on Wednesdaysaid that the visitors would be looking to put India under pressure when thetwo sides meet in their opening match here on Thursday.
"There is always a lot of pressure on the home team butone thing we've seen is that they have an excellent home record. History showsthat they've coped with that over the years. Our job is to put them underpressure," said Cook on the eve of the first Test.
"All through the tour we have said that we have wantedto get used to conditions. It is for the first time since I've been playingthat we've had three practice games. We'd have liked to face more qualityspinners but we can't control that.
What we have had available, we've had some excellent bowlersin the nets," added the left handed opener.
Cook also said that his side was ready for the trial byIndia's spinners R Ashwin and Pragyan Ojha, besides senior bowler HarbhajanSingh.
"We're ready, that's the reason why we came here threeweeks in advance. You're going to lose wickets no matter who is bowling, in anygame, you can read what you want, but the proof of the pudding is in theeating. We can always deal with what is thrown at us," said Cook.
Cook admitted that he would not be able to say for sureabout the pitch prepared for the game.
"Wickets change a lot in 24 or 48 hours. Yesterday itlooked quite dry and I've not had a look right now. The pitch has been re-laidand so there are not many statistics relevant to the wicket," said thecaptain.
It is also Cook's first Test as captain following theretirement of his long-time opening partner and skipper Andrew Strauss.
"I'm obviously excited, a little bit nervous but veryproud to be leading. Whatever happens over the next Test match, I hope do agood job in the long run. I hope to get good results.
"I'll do the best job I can. I won't be doing anythingdifferent from what I've been doing in one-dayers. You can't change who youare."
Cook said the issues that the team had with top batsmanKevin Pietersen in the past is behind them now.
"As a captain it is great to have a world-class batsmanlike him in the team. He can change the game very quickly like he did inColombo, win matches for us in a manner not many people in the world can do.
"The process, review or whatever you call it, in myeyes is finished. It is great to have Kev back and the whole side has adaptedto the situation, to what has happened in the last two months. We've had todrive a line under it and we've moved on. What I don't want to change is hisconfidence, his swagger when he bats because that's what has made him such agreat player. As a captain, that is what you want."
Cook had a word of admiration for the return to Test cricketof Yuvraj Singh after his battle against a rare germ cell cancer between hislungs.
"(It's an) Amazing achievement to come back. To havecancer and come back and play cricket again has been amazing, I'm glad thathe's back. I hope he does not score too many runs. Sometimes cricket has totake a backward step for things which are thrown at you in life.
"I don't know Yuvraj that well but he clearly seems tohave come back from his cancer with such amazing performances.
He got a double hundred two weeks ago (in the domesticDuleep Trophy competition). I don't know how he handles it, but the way he hashandled it has been amazing," Cook said.