Sport - Cricket

Clarke hopes for a fight-back

NEW DELHI: With India taking control of the opening day’s play of the third Test, Australian vice-captain Michael Clarke says the bowlers did a commendable job on a track that was favoured the batsmen.

“The wicket is very flat; it’s a beautiful wicket to bat on. The new ball will be crucial in the morning…We need couple of crucial wickets with the new ball. I am looking forward to tomorrow,” Clarke said while addressing the media here on Wednesday.

“Our bowlers bowled hard. They contained as many runs as possible on a very flat batting track. Sachin (Tendulkar) played really well, (Gautam) Gambhir played really well, Laxman also batted fantastically.”

Praising Gambhir for his unbeaten hundred, Clarke said: “He has been playing good cricket throughout the series so far. Hopefully, we will get him out early with the new ball.”

In the spat between Simon Katich and Gambhir, Clarke played the role of a pacifier but he did not prefer to go into the details of the unsavoury incident.

“I don’t know exactly what was said. I was standing at midwicket or cover. Boys were talking so I made sure we get on with the game. I said to Katich ‘Go man, go back and bowl.’”

“I am sure the match referee will have a look at that. It’s important to get on with the game,” he said.

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