India emphasise fielding skills

Bowlers like Sreesanth need to be backed up by the fielders

With no overall coach for their tour of the British Isles, India are putting fielding high on their agenda as they hunt success in Tests and one-dayers.

After watching his team beat Ireland on Saturday, fielding coach Robin Singh said: "As long as the senior guys keep fit, they know what to do.

"The emphasis is on the younger guys. These conditions were pretty cold.

"But we fielded well in patches today. Some didn't do so well, but overall some very good catches were taken."

Derided in the past as a poor fielding side, albeit with some of the most talented batsmen and bowlers in the world, India are also confident their batsmen can coach themselves.

Singh said: "We've planned pretty well. This is a good team and we have decided what we want to work on.

"We have experienced players like Sourav [Ganguly] and Sachin [Tendulkar] who will provide help, especially with the batting, but whatever we have we want to make the most of it."

India play three Tests and seven one-day internationals in England from mid-July.

Singh is assisted by a fast-bowling coach Venkatesh Prasad, while Chandu Borde is employed as a team manager.