From correspondents in New South Wales, Australia, 07:04 PM IST

India's fast bowling spearhead Zaheer Khan said Monday that he didn't believe lack of practice cost his team the 337-run loss in the first Test match in Melbourne.

'We don't believe in blaming on things. We all are professional cricketers and that's the way we should have approached the game. In Australia you need a different kind of approach to play. The grounds are big and it takes time to acclimatise to the conditions here,' Zaheer told reporters here.

The fast bowler also said that his team has put the disappointing loss behind and were looking to the second Test match here, starting Wednesday.

'It was the last match of 2007 and we are eagerly waiting for 2008 and hopefully we will put up the right performance in the New Year. We are here to play good cricket and there is still a long way to go in this series. We have to get our act together in the next game, it is very crucial for us,' he said.

Asked, as a bowler, did he think the batsmen let the side down in the first Test, Zaheer said: 'It is a team game and we have to work together. Every time bowling and batting units will always not click. So we have to face challenges together.'

On Rahul Dravid's dismal performance, he said: 'We always back our players and that's what is more important at this level. He is a great batsman and it is a long series and I think he will find his form.'

'There are three more Test matches in the series, it is only the start of the series not the end of it. We have done well in the last series here and why not this time. If we play to our potential in the next match we will definitely win it,' he said.

(Staff Writer, © IANS)