Australian captain Ricky Ponting had fairly and squarely laid blame for his side’s first test defeat in two and half years on his batsmen, who peppered the WACA scoreboard with starts, with few cashing in to make a big score.
Each of the first seven batsmen in Australia’s second innings reached double figures, with Michael Clarke’s 81 the only half-century of the lot in the failed pursuit of 413. Left-arm quick Mitchell Johnson showed up his counterparts with an unbeaten 50, proving the Perth pitch was still ripe for batting, despite being a day four wicket.
“We didn’t have the big scores we needed in the chase,” Ponting said, “That’s cost us the game. It’s been a pretty good run, though. It would have great to win one more, or win another ten.”
“The run was always going to end, I suppose.”
The Australian media was quick to predict the demise of its team, despite this being its first loss in tests since the 2005 Ashes.
“I was reading stuff in the paper about it today, is the invincibility all over? I wouldn’t have thought so,” Ponting said.
India again played the role of spoilers, denying Australia a world record seventeenth straight win. The tourists were given next to no chance on the bouncy WACA wicket, however it was their attack which starred.
“Right at the top, I think,” Anil Kumble said when asked how he rated this victory. “If you look back at victories I’ve been involved in, this was one of the best”
“We came with the attitude to come here and win a series in Australia. I’m delighted we can take this confidence into Adelaide and I’m looking to winning that and us levelling the series.”
Share This Post!
These icons link to social bookmarking sites where readers can share and discover new web pages.
No comments yet.