The Hindu : Sport : Change in plan did the trick, says Ishant Sharma

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Change in plan did the trick, says Ishant Sharma

Special Correspondent

Nagpur: Ishant Sharma, part of a constrictive bowling effort that choked Australia on the third day of the fourth Test, said the improvement from Friday’s extravagance was thanks to a change in plan.

“Last evening, we tried some things which didn’t work out, attacked a bit too much, and we conceded a few runs quickly,” said the 6 ft 6in fast bowler.

“Today, we didn’t try too hard, just stuck to our basics. It feels good to come back when two sessions have gone badly. Not just one person but the entire team is bowling well. Australia is the number one team in the world, and if you concede just 166 runs and bowl them out in a day, it’s brilliant.”

Asked if the long spells that both his strike-partner Zaheer Khan and he bowled in difficult conditions were tiring, Ishant said, “If the fast bowlers are in rhythm and look like taking a wicket, even if we bowl long spells, it is good for the team. The bowlers were used very well today, no one got tired.”

Praise for Vijay

M. Vijay’s run-out dismissals of danger-men Mathew Hayden and Michael Hussey drew praise from Ishant. “The way he handled himself was brilliant, and with those two crucial run outs, the game turned in our favour.”

Ishant said India’s tactic of building pressure was aggressive in the context of the conditions and the situation. “Every track you can’t think caught at slip or caught behind,” he said.

“You must set fields and change plans accordingly. I don’t think it was a negative line, (Michael) Hussey and (Simon) Katich got edges and it went through the hands. It was all about building pressure by bowling in the right areas.”

Katich said Australia’s plan was to wait and watch — not unsound in the first session, but puzzling as the day wore on. “Huss and I were pretty content to try and wait it out,” said the left-hander. “And then review it later in the day.

“Unfortunately that didn’t happen due to both of us getting out.”

But why didn’t Australia’s batsmen, the poster boys of quick-scoring Test cricket, not attempt anything to counter India’s bid to sustain pressure?

“You are kidding me, are you not?” snapped Katich. “We were defensive with an 8-1 field? You obviously don’t understand the game.”

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