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- 'In Test cricket all three departments will be tested; that's why it is called test of character of all the three departments. So focus is on all three.'
Emphasising that batting for a longer duration will be key, India's chief coach Anil Kumble says the focus is on changing the mindset of the batsmen from the shorter to longer format ahead of the Test series against the West Indies, starting in Antigua, on Thursday.
"We are focusing at changing the mindset of batsmen in terms of coming from shorter format into a longer format and the batting time, as it is important to bat for a longer duration," said Kumble, who played 132 Test matches in his career.
India's cricketers played for about two months in the Indian Premier League before embarking on a short tour of Zimbabwe, where they played only One-Day Internationals and Twenty20s.
Kumble said being boring is what the bowlers need to be in Test cricket.
"In the bowling department, we will be focusing of consistent lengths and being boring. That's what we need to do when playing Test cricket. The emphasis will also be on the catching, as they are important to win the games," said Kumble, during an interaction with his fans on Twitter.
Kumble said both spinners and pacers will have to bowl in tandem on the slower West Indies wickets during the four-Test series.
"I believe that bowlers also bowl in partnerships, like batsmen play in partnership. Spinners and fast bowlers will have an equal role. The wickets have so far been on the slower side but I don't know what kind of wickets will be in the four Test matches. Indian spinners will have an important role to play for us to win the series," he said.
Kumble, who picked up a record 619 Test wickets, said Test cricket is the real test of character for cricketers.
"In Test cricket all three departments will be tested; that's why it is called test of character of all the three departments. So focus is on all three," said India's highest wicket-taker.
"What is also important is rest period or the recovery period. Other than the three departments, we are also concentrating on the fitness and the recovery period."
Responding to a query on grooming Ravichandran Ashwin as an all-rounder as a solution to India's balance overseas, Kumble said, "Ashwin is an extremely capable batsman and we are also blessed with some of the other lower-middle order batsmen who are extremely capable. The focus is not just on the bowlers bowling but also on the bowlers batting."
Kumble, who engaged in water sports with the team, said he has enjoyed the last three weeks of being part of the Indian dressing room and it feels good to be back in India colours.