Taunton, Jul 16 (IANS): Pace spearhead Zaheer Khan is confident that India can continue their run as the world's best Test team in the four-match series.
The left-arm pacer said there is no pressure on India to prove anything. He feels if India can play good cricket they can win the series
"There is no burden on our team to prove anything. If we play good cricket we will win matches and then everything else will take care of itself. I've got confidence from the previous tours I've had here as well as the county season I played, which makes me familiar with conditions," Zaheer was quoted as saying by The Mirror.
Zaheer, who picked up 18 wickets here in the 2007 series, said English conditions suit his bowling style.
"I've always enjoyed playing here, the conditions are good for my kind of bowling. Whenever the weather is good it definitely provides that little bit extra for the seamers, which I really enjoy. This year I'm also looking to do the same thing as in 2007, I will use this practice game to get my body going and get into the zone, then carry on from there," he said.
The jelly bean incident of 2007 is still fresh in Zaheer's mind. Ian Bell tossed a few jelly beans from short leg towards him when was batting in the Trent Bridge Test.
"In the last series you could see how hurt they were when the whole jellybean thing happened because they lost the series. It is up to them how far they want to push it and whether they want to cross the line or not. I am very clear, I want to play the game in the right spirit and I don't think by doing that they had shown the right spirit of the game.
"I want to fight hard on the field and that is the way I will be playing it in this series as well. As a bowler I'm very confident and the way things are panning out, it will be a big series and we're looking forward to the contest," he said.
Zaheer wants Sachin Tendulkar to get the 100th century in the first Test at Lord's starting Thursday. The Lord's Test will be the 100th match between the two sides, the 2,000th Test match of all time.
Zaheer is also staring at a personal milestone as he is 10 wickets closer to his target of 300 Test scalps.
"That would be great. It is going to be a massive game and a massive series," said Zaheer.