Rediff

Adelaide, Jan 22: Opener Matthew Hayden has said Australia were undeterred by the Perth loss and challenged India to prove their claims of superiority in the fourth and final cricket Test at Adelaide.
 
Saurav Ganguly said India played better than the hosts this summer while Venkatesh Prasad declared that the visiting side had the best attack in the world.

"I would say there is no other side in the world that comes close to us when we are playing our best," said Hayden, whose 86 consecutive Test streak was broken when he missed the Perth match due to hamstring injury.

"We have had a little glitch in the radar. I don't suspect that will be in our mindset in preparing for this Test. Ultimately, we are still 2-1 up in the series, so I am not sure we are bottom-dwellers just yet," he was quoted as saying in the Herald Sun.

The 36-year-old hard-hitting Australian batsman refused to agree that the tourists' attack was now the best in the business after proving themselves at WACA.

"We will see. We have a very talented side. It is unbelievable. A week ago cricket was boring because Australia was so dominant. We have a very good bowling line-up going into these conditions. We saw that in Sydney," he said.

Hayden said he was fit to play India in the fourth and final Test later this week.

"I am in. It is as simple as that. I have already done fitness tests this week," said Hayden, who has scored 307 runs at 76.75 this series.

"I feel comfortable where I am at with my hamstring and I have prepared like I would for any Test. I am ready to go. I am in pretty good shape."