'Hard Work Paying Off'

Yuvraj Singh's top class show in the tri-series so farcan be attributed to the homework the aggressive left-hander did while watchinghis team-mates in action against Australia in the Test matches.

He was itching to have a crack at the world championsever since and batted to his heart's fill when he smashed that mighty 139against the hosts last week.

"I was watching those Tests on the telly and giventhe way our batters were batting, I was itching to bat on these wickets,"Yuvraj said in an interview.

The Indian's aggressive century led Ricky Ponting todescribe him as one of the best strikers in the game around and his own captainto admit it was one of the finest one-day hundreds he had witnessed.

"When I came over, the seniors kept telling methese were my kind of wickets and I should enjoy striking the ball here,"said Yuvraj. "I too sensed the ball would comeon to the bat and I would get value for my shots."

Yuvraj said he carried the confidence of a half centuryagainst Zimbabwe from the previous innings at the Gabba and was lucky he hadextra overs to settle himself down.

"Usually when I come to the crease, there are notmany overs left. But this was different and I allowed myself to settle downbefore playing my range of shots.

Yuvraj clobbered every Australian bowler on view but remembers a pull againstJason Gillespie as a shot which sticks to his memory.

"It is not easy to hit bowlers of the calibre of(Brett) Lee and Gillespie. I liked that pull against Gillespie because he is notthe kind of bowler you can pull easily. He did not like it but then no fastbowler likes being pulled." Yuvraj also swept Andrew Symonds to good effectwhich riled the sturdy Queenslander as he is normally a very stingy customer inone-day cricket.

"I didn't want to sweep him but he drifted downthe legside and I was drawn into sweep shots." Yuvraj is bursting at theseams with talent but knows he would have to come to terms with the situation --a Test spot looks unlikely and in one-dayers he will not be coming up the ordersoon.

"I don't blame anyone for this situation. I am abatsman but there are others who are settled and producing runs. I will have towait for my turn. I am just happy to come to the crease and bat, be it domesticor international cricket."

Yuvraj has lately turned an opener in domestic cricketand sees it as the only avenue where he could force his way into the Test team.

"I played a Test and got out cheaply and have notplayed since then. I realised I must turn an opener if I have to bat in a Testeleven. Saurav (Ganguly) too told me that is the only option left for me if Ihave Test ambitions.

Yuvraj continues to work on his batting and feels he needs to improve his skillsagainst spinners as well as on footwork when the ball is doing a bit.

"Obviously there are areas where I need toimprove. I need to improve against spinners for I seem to get out a lot to them.I also need to improve my footwork when the ball is doing a bit." Yuvrajremains an outstanding fielder square of the wicket and said he sometimes missesMohammad Kaif who is equally good at covers.

"Together we had forged a good understanding but Itry to do whatever I can do best in the field." Yuvraj also does not forgetto mention V.V.S. Laxman and the form the Hyderabadi batsman is exhibiting onthis tour.

"It is his kind of wicket where the ball is comingon to bat. But he has batted like a God on this tour.

PTI