‘Top order failed, hope we learn from mistakes’
›The odd ball is skidding on and the odd ball is holding a bit more from the grass. I would say it is kind of a two pace and it is not easy to bat. C PUJARA, On the Adelaide wicket
ADELAIDE: India’s first innings hero Cheteshwar Pujara conceded that the top-order should have batted better on day one of the first Test against Australia. “They (Australia bowlers) bowled in the right areas. I also felt that our top order should have batted better but they will learn from the mistakes. Hopefully we will bat well in the second innings,” he said on Thursday.
“As far as my innings is concerned, I had prepared well and overall I have the experience of first-class and Test cricket and that came in handy,” he said. Pujara added the wicket wasn’t easy to bat on, and that he needed to take a lot of time to play his shots, which again reflected poorly on how the Indian top-order batted on Thursday.
“It has to be different because when you are batting with the tail, you never know how long can they bat.
“You have to take your chances but you can’t do the same when you are batting with a (top order) batsman. When you are just 1 or 2 down, you can’t play the same shots.
“Also, the difference is, I had batted for two sessions and I knew what the pace and bounce of the pitch was. I was set, so I could play my shots. I was a bit disappointed but I had to take that single because only last two balls were left and I wanted to be on strike. I took the chance but Pat Cummins fielded brilliantly,” he said of run out on what turned out to be the final ball of the day.
Pujara feels 250 is a decent first innings total, considering the conditions. “I would say it is a decent total because there is enough turn. Ashwin will also come into play. It is not an easy wicket to bat on. Sometimes when you are seeing it on TV, it doesn’t look like it is doing a lot. But when I batted in the first and second sessions, I felt it wasn’t easy to bat on and with our fast bowlers, I will share my experience of what line and length to bowl on this pitch.
“It is the grass. The odd ball is skidding on and the odd ball is holding a bit more from the grass. I would say it is kind of a two pace and it is not easy to bat.”