February 27, 2008	Wednesday	Safar 19, 1429

MUMBAI, Feb 26: India’s new coach Gary Kirsten is in favour of the glamour and cash offered by the multi-million dollar Indian Premier League (IPL) although he wants his players to be focused on Test cricket.

“It (IPL) is having a huge impact as we have seen,” Kirsten told reporters after a meeting with Indian board’s officials along with Test captain Anil Kumble on Tuesday. “(But) I would like to still see Test cricket as the number one priority.”

South African Kirsten, 40, officially takes over as national team coach on March 1 on a two-year contract, succeeding Australian Greg Chappell who resigned from the post last March after the team’s first-round exit in the 50-over World Cup.

“India have 15 Test matches in the next year by the looks of the schedule,” said Kirsten, who played over 100 Tests and One-day Internationals for his country in the 1990s.

“Certainly, there seems to be a similar thinking that we’d like to be right up there in terms of a Test side,” he said.

His first full challenge as coach comes against his homeland when South Africa tour India for three Tests starting next month.—Reuters