Past record against Australia may be the last thing on skipper Sourav Ganguly's mind but rival captain Ricky Ponting asserts it would work against the Indians in the VB tri-series finals.
"I guarantee Indians would be thinking about it (recent record)," said Ponting ahead of the first final against India at Melbourne on Friday.
India lost the World Cup final to Australia last year before going down in a tri-series final at home for a dismal 1-7 one-day finals head to head record against the world champions.
Ponting believes Australia can work this record in their favour in the finals.
"You look back at our record against India over the last few years and it is very, very good -- not only in big games but in most games of cricket we have played against them," said the upbeat Australian skipper.
Ponting was also seeking to exploit the scars left by Brett Lee on the Indian batsmen in Perth.
"Brett, hopefully, would have created some scars in Perth and we can carry on and bring that to tell in the final of the series," he said after nest at a small ground in St. Kilda, a suburb of Melbourne.
Lee wrecked India with some fiery bowling on a quick and bouncy WACA pitch on Sunday.
"We have been yearning to play India in Perth and certainly our fast bowlers right throughout the summer have played them on some very good batting wickets," said Ponting hoping his bowlers would come good even on a docile pitch at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.
"If we bowl well, execute our plans well and hold on to our catches, we are going to be very competitive in the finals," he said.
However, Ponting did not want to take anything away from the Indians who have enjoyed a sensational summer Down Under.
"It has been a great summer of excellent cricket and both sides have made lots of runs. There is no reason why finals wouldn't be the same and provide the big crowd some entertaining cricket.
"It has been tough and hard. The Test matches have been sensational and even the one-dayers have gone down the wire with a couple finishing in the final overs."
With an impressive show in the tri-series league, Ponting saw no reason for his team failing to deliver the goods now that it really mattered.
"We are running into some good form. We are certainly improving. If we keep the momentum going, we would be difficult to get past by," he said.
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