India to work on fielding and fitness: Wright

India will concentrate on fielding and improving the players' fitness levels ahead of their tour of Zimbabwe starting later this month, the team's coach John Wright said on Sunday.

Former New Zealand captain Wright, speaking on the first day of a conditioning camp for 26 test hopefuls, said the Indian team was fitter than before but still needed to work hard.

"Overall it (fitness) was not too bad," he told reporters after a strenuous session of fitness exercises and fielding practice.

"It is better than what it was at the last camp. There is always room for improvement. You can't expect people to come here and fitness to change in five days," he added.

India leave on May 25 for Zimbabwe, where they will play two tests and a triangular one-day series also involving West Indies.

Asked if he was working specifically to prepare the team for the long haul ahead, Wright said he would be gong back to basics.

"What we'll do is to concentrate on technical basics, with fielding and running between the wickets," he said.

India's touring squad will be named on Thursday, the day before the six-day training camp ends.

Wright said India would miss the injured Anil Kumble on the tour.

Kumble, considered one of the world's best leg spinners, is struggling for full fitness after a shoulder injury and has ruled himself out of competitive action for at least two more months.

He underwent surgery in January and has not played since withdrawing midway through a triangular one-day tournament in Sharjah last October.

But paceman Javagal Srinath, who missed most of the recent home series against Australia because of a fractured finger, is expected to play a prominent part on the tour.

"Kumble's got a way to go and he's working very hard to get back and Srinath is as good as anyone," Wright said. "Both are experienced and very good performers."

Wright's Indian team came from behind to beat Australia 2-1 earlier this year, halting the visitors' world record test-winning streak at 16 matches.

Mail Cricket Editor