Anil Kumble at a news conference in Adelaide on Wednesday. (AFP)

Adelaide: In sharp contrast to the attitude shown by Mahendra Singh Dhoni on Tuesday, on the issue of the ODI squad for the tri-series, Test captain Anil Kumble gave the seniors their due during a Q&A session with the media on Wednesday afternoon. Later, he briefly spoke to The Telegraph separately.

The following are excerpts

On returning to the Adelaide Oval, which saw a Team India victory on the last tour (2003-04) and where he picked up a fiver in the first innings

It’s indeed a special venue because it all started here... The last four years have been fantastic for me personally and for Indian cricket... I hope we win this Test... It’s an opportunity to level the series. We’re focused.

On the composition of the XI

There are a few possibilities, but we’d like to take a final look at the wicket before deciding. Five bowlers is an option and that will be assessed.

On the final Test being his last in Australia

I’d thought about it even when I played (the final Test) in Sydney on the last tour! Yeah, this time, I’m sure it will be my last and it’ll be nice to go back with a victory.

On his Australia tours (1999-00, 2003-04 and now)

(Emotionally) I’ve enjoyed all of them, but in terms of results, the last was the best as we drew the Test series... As a senior group, we’d come with the purpose of winning... We won’t achieve that, but can at least level the series and go back home with heads held high. Indian teams which come in the future will look at the performances from the past and I’m sure they’ll achieve what we couldn’t.

On the fans’ frenzy being more this time

Is it? Well, the fans always seem more passionate in Adelaide... Has been so on previous tours as well.

On the usual Adelaide wicket

It’s a very good surface... It’s good for batting and then slowly assists the spinners.

On Australia having come a cropper in 2003-04, despite batting first and scoring 556 after Steve Waugh won the toss

You don’t really look at the past... If you’d looked at the past records in Perth, then the teams winning the toss invariably fielded... I think it depends on the conditions... Also depends on the team’s composition... Whether you bat first or bowl first, you still have to do well in that first innings... I don’t worry about what has happened in the past, what’s important is to play good cricket.

On what caused more of a distraction, the post-Sydney developments or the selection of the ODI squad for the tri-series

Don’t see them as distractions... It’s been a challenge... I’m sure people will be disappointed at not being a part of the ODI squad, but if you look at those who haven’t made it, then you’ll see they’ve played enough cricket to understand that this match is crucial not just for us, but Indian cricket... If we’ve got to draw the series, then we’ve got to put up our best possible effort... I’ve explained the situation and they understand... They’re professional enough to still give off their best... I expect nothing else from any one of them.

On whether this has been his toughest off-the-field challenge as captain

That the seniors in question (Sourav Ganguly, Rahul Dravid, V.V.S. Laxman) have played so much cricket and understand things is what made it easier.

On his first reaction when he learnt of the ODI squad

Selection isn’t in their (players’) hands... It’s something I’ve gone through, as an individual... We’re in the middle of a series and it’s not ideal, but that’s the way it is... It’s disappointing for those left out, but this Test is a bigger priority... I know it’s not easy on the senior players when they’re left out, but it’s important to focus on this Test...

On the mood in the team vis-a-vis what it was in Melbourne, on the eve of the Test series

We’ve done really well as the series has progressed and the confidence is great... As individuals and as a team, the performances have only improved.

On whether one player has stood out

Very difficult to pick one... Having said that, people have really stepped up, especially in the bowling department... I remember at my first press conference in Australia, questions had been asked over our ability to get 20 wickets in a match... We’ve done that and I’m really delighted with the young bowling attack.

On the possibility of both Harbhajan Singh and Ishant Sharma, who’ve been getting Ricky Ponting out cheaply, being in the XI here

As long as we keep doing that, it doesn’t matter who gets him out... He’s a key batsman and, as long as we keep that going, I’ll be happy... Getting him early allows us to get into the Australian middle-order sooner than most expect.

On Brad Hogg, who is expected to play

Our batters have faced him in the first two Tests and we understand what he’s capable of... It’s important to go out and do our best instead of worrying about who’ll play and who won’t.

Finally, on the transition phase for teams

It’s difficult to replace anybody for that matter and one can possibly see it among the Australians... Every team undergoes transition and how we do that will be the key... We’ve got talent back home, it’s just a matter of ensuring that they have the confidence and in four-five years we’ll have a good set of players to take Indian cricket forward.