The tailenders’ gritty show was among the many positives that Australia skipper Michael Clarke listed after his team’s crushing 122-run victory over India in the first Test here on Thursday.
“The most pleasing aspect was to see the tail wag and get critical runs in both the innings. To see our bowlers execute our plans so well. “To see Huss (Hussey) under pressure walk out and play the way he did. The way Punter (Ponting) played in both the innings. Ed (Cowan) on debut, his first innings was crucial.
There are so many positives to come out of this game,” said Clarke after the match.
Heaping praise on his bowlers for restricting India to 282 and 169 in two innings, Clarke said: “I wasn’t taking it lightly till the last wicket. We know how dangerous Mahendra Singh Dhoni could be.
“A lot of credit needs to go to our bowlers. I think they bowled really well. The wicket throughout the game had enough in it and it was hard to start. If you got in, it was probably a little bit easier but it wasn’t the type of wicket you ever felt comfortable to play your shots.
“They’ve got a lot of class players; their batting order is as strong as any batting order in the world, so for our bowlers to have success, I think they deserve a lot of credit.”
The 30-year-old Clarke said Australia would have to be at their best if they wanted to beat India in the Test series. “It was a really hard-fought Test match and like I said before the start of the series, we have to be at our best to beat India,” he said.
