Raina calls for character

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Cricket365
August 24, 2014

India batsman Suresh Raina has called on his team mates to show character as they head into the first of three ODI's against England.

<b>India batsman Suresh Raina has called on his team mates to show character as they head into the first of three ODI's against England on Monday.</b>

The Test side were recently beaten 3-1 in a five match series against England, but Raina believes the players who were not involved in the that series will help revitalize India's flagging morale.

"The team is going through a difficult phase right now and it is time for us to show character," Raina told <i>Bcci.tv</i>.

"It can be difficult sometimes to move on from such defeat but you have to fight your way out of it when you're playing at the international level.

"The new players will bring freshness in the squad which will help the guys who have been here for the Tests regain the positivity. They are striving to learn from their mistakes and we will add fresh spirit."

India won the second Test of the series against England by 91 runs after the first match finished in a draw, but completely fell apart in the final three games and succumbed to defeat in just two days in both of the last two games.

Raina says he will be working hard to keep team spirit high, as he has done throughout his international career.

The left hander said he sought the advice of Sachin Tendulkar before leaving for England, during preparation at the Bandra-Kurla Complex (BKC).

"I went up to him and asked how should go about things in England. I had a lot of conversations with him mainly on the mental side of things," Raina said.

"I also worked with Pravin Amre sir there at the BKC on various aspects of my batting."