India’s Karun Nair conceded that the bowlers have to be a more disciplined lot if his team has to check Australia in the second unofficial ‘Test’. The visitors, after dismissing the home side for 135, quietly chipped away at the score, bringing the deficit to less than 100, as the Indian bowlers, in contrast to their Australian counterparts, sprayed the ball around.
“I think 200 would have been a good score,” Karun said. “But since the batsmen didn’t get enough, the pressure of getting wickets made them bowl the odd loose delivery. We will be more disciplined tomorrow.”
India’s top-scorer, when asked if he was happy with his half-century, bemoaned the fact that he couldn’t convert it into a big one.
ADVERTISEMENT
“I could not take any chances as they bowled extremely well. There were no free balls. I played well but I shouldn’t have gotten out when I did. I lost a bit of concentration and the ball swung a bit more into me than expected.”
Australia’s left-arm spinner Ashton Agar credited the bowlers for his team’s dominant performance.
ADVERTISEMENT
“There was enough variable bounce,” Agar said. “If we bowl at the stumps and if one ball shoots low there is a chance of an lbw. If one kicks up there is a chance of a catch. In the middle session the scoreboard wasn’t moving. We knew that if we got a couple of wickets, they would be in trouble and that’s what happened and we were able to run through the tail.”
While the Indian batsmen huffed and puffed their way, the Australian openers scored at a brisk rate in their first innings.
“I think our batsmen showed good intent against their fast bowlers. I am not sure what their batters were thinking. We had a plan to keep moving the game forward and played our natural game.”
On the eve of the match Agar had remarked that everyone in his team was eager to get Virat Kohli's wicket but in the end the prized catch was grabbed by none other than himself.
“Very satisfying. I look up to him as a batsman. He is one of my favourites. To get an opportunity to bowl to him is great and to get him out is even better.”