Srikkanth , chairman of selectors has said his long-term goal was to identify the best team possible for the 2011 World Cup, while his immediate priority was to choose the best side for the series against Australia.

The series against Australia gets underway on October 9 in Bangalore and follows a 2-1 defeat in Sri Lanka where several senior members of the Test squad struggled for form. Srikkanth, however, said that the “mental strength” of the seniors would be critical against Australia.

“S Badrinath, Rohit Sharma and a few others have the talent but it is not ability alone that makes a player tick at the highest level,” Srikkanth told Deccan Chronicle.

“Mental strength is critical and cannot be taught, it has to be within, and the likes of Sachin , Rahul  and Anil  have shown the way over a good period of time. It will be important to groom the youngsters under them,” he said.

“An eye for the future is equally important. Hard decisions might have to be taken in the future. The current Test team is one of the best India has ever had and it will not be easy replacing them,” he added.