Ricky Ponting and Michael Clarke in a playful mood at the Sydney Cricket Ground on Tuesday. (AFP)

Sydney: As part of their pre-match commitments, rival captains Ricky Ponting and Anil Kumble spoke to the media on Tuesday afternoon. Both also had a brief one-on-one with The Telegraph, at the SCG (which hosts the second Test) itself.

The following are excerpts from what Ponting said

On having gone 1-0 up after a one-sided Test

Look, we had a great win at the MCG last week, but it’s only one Test down out of four and all of us know that this game can change pretty quickly... What we did last week was terrific, but we’ve got to start all over again tomorrow. Of course, we’ve got some momentum from the last game and need to take it forward... We can’t sit back and wait for things to happen for we know India’s a good enough side to get the momentum going in their favour... It’s about how we start...

On the Indians having done well at the SCG on the last tour (2003-04)

Yes, they did very well and when you come to overseas grounds where you’ve done well, then you do get a good feeling. That the Indians scored over 700 in the first innings proved they’d done a lot of things right. I think we’re better equipped this time to make sure that doesn’t happen again. We’ve got plans in place and it’s a question of executing them.

On the huge emotional flavour in that Test, which was Steve Waugh’s last

Wasn’t a distraction because Steve had announced his retirement at the start of that summer. It was indeed a great Test match to be a part of.

On the Indians’ lack of preparation going into the first Test

Way too much has been made of it, for they’d just had a three-Test series against Pakistan... It’s not that they hadn’t been playing for months and I’m not sure how much of a difference it would have made had the tour-opener not been affected by rain. In fact, the wicket at the MCG had been pretty similar to what they’d been playing on at home. The skills, in my view, don’t go anywhere... Different things work for different people, but too much got made about the lack of preparation.

On whether he expects changes in the Indian team

(Grins) A couple of changes wouldn’t surprise me... I thought about it long and hard yesterday... I wouldn’t be surprised if they brought in (Virender) Sehwag and left out (Wasim) Jaffer to try and take some of the scoring pressure off Dravid.

[By the evening, however, it was clear that Sehwag would have to wait for his turn in this four-Test series.]

On Sachin Tendulkar

He looked nice and positive at the MCG, but I think Brett (Lee) has, of late, been bowling at him very well... Sachin’s usually very good at summing up the wicket’s condition.

On having discouraged talk about being one Test away from equalling their own record of 16 consecutive wins (between 1999-2001)

Nothing wrong with it, but it can take your focus away... I don’t mind a bit of talk about it, but you need a clear mind to think of every ball you’ll be bowling or facing... We’re getting close to a great milestone and that’s exciting, but you’ve got to win 600 contests before you win a day’s play and you’ve got to put together five days before you win a Test... The lesser you think (about 16 wins) the better and I’d like the guys to get it out of their system before tomorrow ... I don’t sit back and think of such things... For me, it’s more about a day to day work ethic.

On the SCG wicket

Had a look at it first thing in the morning... Looked particularly good, had a bit of grass... I think it’s going to be a good Test wicket.

On his team

It’s the start of a new year and the spirit around the group is good... We’ll be playing the XI which won so comprehensively at the MCG... (Adds laughing) At different times, everybody except me played a part in that win... We either had a fair partnership or bowled with discipline. Our intensity, especially while fielding, was very good... You won’t see laziness or complacency... Haven’t sensed that the guys will be waiting for things to happen... Clearly, we’ll have to execute our plans well.

On the excellent show by his bowlers at the MCG

The Indian batsmen definitely have concerns because of how well we bowled there... Our attack is balanced... A lot has been made about the Indian batting, but our bowlers didn’t give them many scoring opportunities... I’m sure Rahul Dravid (who took 41 balls to get off the mark in the first innings) was trying to score off every ball he faced... We set some pretty high standards last week and want to live up to them.

On bowling coach Troy Cooley’s contribution

The boys have worked very hard with him and vice-versa... Troy has had Mitchell (Johnson) under him for a couple of years and, when we were batting at the MCG, they were working together on the seam and wrist positions... He’s helping find new ways for the bowlers to improve and, hopefully, they’ll develop more skills.

On Brad Hogg having been among the wickets at the MCG

It must have given him more confidence... A couple of the flippers he bowled were as good as anyone... The execution of his plans was very good. He’ll probably be a better bowler at the SCG.

On having a fine record at the SCG

Yes, I’ve got five Test hundreds, so there are a lot of good feelings about being here... Hopefully, I’ll be feeling good throughout this week... It will be nice to get some runs and spend some time in the middle.

On Harbhajan Singh having got him quite a few times

(Grins) He got me out on his first ball at the MCG (second innings) and, so, I’ve got some improving to do... Harbhajan does have a great record against me, but I’m training hard and batting well... I hope to get him away at the SCG.

On this period of transition, life without Shane Warne and Glenn McGrath

So far, touch wood, this transition phase has been very good... A lot was made at the end of last summer about how we would re-group and so on after the loss of some great players, but I had faith in the guys coming in. There will be ups and downs, as it is with all teams, but we’ll be looking to improve on our performances.

On how he ushered in 2008

I was at home and didn’t really think about what I wanted to achieve in the new year.

On touring Pakistan from March

The tour is still some months away and we’ll be guided by the experts on the ground in Pakistan and on the ground in Australia... Watching the events of last week on the TV did create some concerns... We haven’t played Pakistan too much in recent years and I’d much rather be playing than not playing cricket.

Finally, on having ended 2007 with a 100 per cent success record as captain

(Smiles) It’s a nice piece of statistics, but you’ve got to remember it’s the players who produce victories... I’m just the captain... The effort comes from all XI... The credit, therefore, is the team’s and not mine.