Indian skipper Saurav Ganguly today paid wholesome tribute to Australia, acknowledging its status as the best side in the world, and said his team would need to lift its game to put up a good fight in the tour Down Under beginning towards the end of the year.“The Aussies are the only side ahead of us. To be honest, we are the second best team after them,” Ganguly told reporters during a function here.Hoping to do well in Australia, where India will play four Test matches and a tri-series also involving Zimbabwe during the 70-day tour, Ganguly had said on his birthday last week “for me, the best birthday gift would be winning the cricket series Down Under”.Ganguly today described the Aussie series as tough. “It is going to be a test of our abilities there. They are a very good side and in great form. We have to lift our game to compete with them on their soil,” he said.Ganguly, however, added in the same breath that he was confident about the ablity of his side to turn the table on the Aussies. “I’m pretty confident about that. My boys are experienced and have travelled throughout the world.”But he said that the Indians had to prepare well ahead of the tour. “Winning does not depend solely on me, but on the entire team. For that we have to really play well. Plan well and get fit, which we are trying to do,” he said.The Indian captain also pointed out that his side’s bowling department needed to be spruced up, but did not elaborate on the point.“We’ll have to get our bowling department sorted out,” he said.The dashing southpaw expressed optimism about the coming home series against New Zealand starting in October and the tri-series also including Australia.“I’m pretty hopeful of doing well both in the Tests and one-dayers in the coming season. My hope springs from the way my team has shaped up in the last few years. I’m confident of carrying forward our success,” he said. “I think we had an outstanding last year. We need to carry it forward. Its not just one good patch,” he said.
