NEW DELHI, July 19: India need to improve their bench strength if they are to emulate Australia as the world’s leading cricket side, according to new coach Greg Chappell.

“I think the strength of the Australian team is not so much about the stars of that team, but what I would call the second-tier players,” Chappell said in an interview.

The Australian great has an early opportunity to test his reserves in a triangular one-day series starting July 30 in Sri Lanka with India naming newcomers Suresh Raina and Venugopal Rao in a 16-member squad.

The tri-series, also featuring the West Indies, will be Chappell’s first assignment as India coach after taking over from New Zealander John Wright in May.

Chappell said the key to Australia’s dominance was “the guys who are not the superstars of the team, but keep putting in day after day.—PPI