Upset Mayank calls it a learning curve
SYDNEY: India opener Mayank Agarwal was livid with himself after squandering a golden opportunity to score a maiden Test hundred on the first day of the fourth Test but hopes to quickly learn from mistakes.
Agarwal scored 77 runs and put on 116 runs for the second wicket, setting a platform. The Karnataka opener had made 76 and 42 in his debut Test in Melbourne.
“I am quite disappointed for missing out on a big score. With that said, it’s a learning curve. If I don’t make this mistake again, it will be a good learning. I was looking to dominate Nathan Lyon and it didn’t work. Really disappointed that I threw my wicket,” he said on Thursday.
India lost KL Rahul early and the duo faced a testing spell of short bowling from the Australian pacers. Agarwal said that their focus was on building partnerships, and he was talking with Pujara for the same throughout.
“Recently I faced such short
Dean Jones
bowling from New Zealand-a side (in New Zealand). They also came very hard, but to be really honest, I think the Australian pace bowling attack came really, really hard. They bowled quick bouncers and they were sharp. They were consistent and didn’t give anything away,” he said.
“The plan was always to get a small partnership after each wicket and that’s the same thing we spoke about. We said to each other that let’s try to play close to the body and not give them wickets. Even if we are not getting too many runs too quick, it’s alright; let’s try to get a partnership and take it from there onwards,” he added.
Agarwal talked about learning from Pujara’s batting style and showered praise on the senior batsman.
“Definitely, it is great to watch him bat from the other end and also to watch him bat the way he grinds the bowlers. He has got a pattern to it and he understands his strengths and knows that he is very tight with his defence. He looks to do that and waits for the bad ball to come.
“This game is for five days and there is time. It is a very long game and if you see him bat, you can learn a lot. Patience is his strength and he sticks to that,” he said.
For Agarwal too though, this was an additional confidence booster after his showing in the debut Test at Melbourne. He credited Rahul Dravid for instilling this confidence in him.