Anil Kumble shows fellow-spinner Harbhajan Singh a trick at the SCG on Tuesday. (AP)

The following are excerpts from what Kumble had to say at the SCG on Tuesday afternoon:

On the wicket

It had been watered around five minutes before I saw it... It looks a good surface, but the wicket isn’t something we want to worry about too much...We need to take the wicket and conditions out of the equation...

On the Team India XI

We’ve got time to decide the XI... There are a few things in the mind, but I wouldn’t like to share them now.

On whether Harbhajan Singh, who has a good record against Ricky Ponting, will be introduced as soon as he takes guard

It depends... I’m aware of Harbhajan’s record... Ponting’s a key player and I realise it’s important to get such players out quickly... It could be through Harbhajan, could be through somebody else.

On whether Rahul Dravid will again open with Wasim Jaffer

(Smiles) It’s 50-50! I’ve had a chat with him and he just needs to relax a bit... I’m sure he’ll be able to go out and bat the way he does.

On his expectations from Sachin Tendulkar

Whatever he did the last time (an unbeaten 241 in the first innings in 2003-04)... It will be great if he can match or better that.

On whether the batsmen have recovered from the twin failures at the MCG

They needed to relax... I thought all the batters had been uptight in the first Test... If the mind is thinking positively, then the running between wickets will also be better... We’ve discussed, but not extensively, that they needed to play their natural game... You can’t change much in a couple of days, but I’m sure the new year will bring a lot more positive thoughts...

On the new year’s eve cruise

It was relaxing... The families were there...

On having done well at the SCG on the last tour

We’ve almost always done well at the SCG and are looking forward to the contest.

On whether the past actually has a bearing

You can think about whatever you’ve done in the past, but it’s also important to focus on what can be achieved... We’re disappointed with what happened at the MCG, but we’ve left that disappointment behind and are looking forward to new challenges. Everybody’s keen to put up a good show.

On having to match Australia’s fierce intensity

We’ve done it in the past... Having said that, we need to match the intensity we’ve ourselves achieved in the past and need to play our cricket... Need to prepare the way we can best... We’ve travelled well in the last few years.

On having had a break for two days despite losing the first Test inside four

For some people it may seem that the more you’re seen on the field (at nets), the better prepared you are... Some people feel you need a bit of a break... To relax and think about what went wrong... As someone who understands the game, I feel you’ve got to switch off and think of the positives achieved in the past... One hit at the nets will not make you a better player, nor will not having a practice session make you a bad player.

Finally, on whether he’s now himself relaxed after the big defeat in the first Test

I am, yes... I’m fine.