The Hindu : Sport : Bowlers happy with pitch

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Nov 05, 2004

Sport

Sport

Bowlers happy with pitch

MUMBAI, NOV. 4. "I think a target of 160-170 would be tough on a wicket like this," said Indian left-arm spinner, Murali Kartik, speaking to the presspersons after the second day's play in the final Test against Australia at the Wankhede Stadium here on Thursday.

"The wicket helped spin bowling. I cannot say what an ideal wicket is," said the Railways' cricketer.

Speaking about his role, he said, "It is important to be patient on a turning track. It was my duty to plug one end. Thankfully, I came on at a time when things were going right."

However, Kartik felt he had bowled much better in Nagpur. "The wicket was different, favouring the seamers. But here, I was required to adjust to a different game plan and just hold one end and wait for the wickets to fall."

Australian paceman Jason Gillespie, who took four wickets in the first innings, said he was satisfied with his show.

"The wicket here was a little interesting today. I think the key is to bang it into the track as hard as you can and let the ball do the rest. As a seamer, however, you just try and put the ball in the right areas, use the crease, and keep the seam upright and try to move the ball off the wicket as much as you can," Gillespie said.

Off-spinner Nathan Hauritz, who made his debut for Australia in this Test, said that he had not seen a pitch (even on TV) on which a ball turns so much. "It felt good to take three wickets on debut," he said. — Our Principal Correspondent