Ponting hopes speed will deliver
Manoj VATSYAYANA
Australia captain Ricky Ponting goes into the crucial fourth and
final Test against India here on Thursday praying his fast bowlers
return to their wicket-taking ways.
Ponting's main worry is that he has yet to find bowlers capable of
taking 20 wickets in a Test, essential for a victory.
His team has so far failed to dismiss a strong Indian batting line-up
twice in a match. He now expects a vastly-improved performance from his
bowlers in a bid to retain the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. His team trails
1-0 following a 320-run defeat in the second Test. The other two matches
were drawn.
"I think we have proved (in the last Test in Delhi) that our batting
is certainly up to scratch in these conditions, there's no doubt about
that," Ponting said ahead of Thursday's match, to be played at a new
stadium. "The challenge ahead is to take 20 wickets in Nagpur." Key
paceman Brett Lee looked sharp in patches in the last three Tests, but
it was just not good enough to rattle the Indian batting on slow
pitches. He has bagged only seven wickets in six innings. Fast bowlers
Mitchell Johnson, Stuart Clark and Shane Watson also failed to keep
constant pressure on the Indian batsmen, while lone spinner Cameron
White could not provide much support. Ponting hinted at changes in the
side.
"We've got to look long and hard at the guys on the sidelines and see
if they can add anything to our bowling group," he said after the last
Test. The match will also provide answers as to whether Australia have
ceased to be a dominant bowling force in the world after the retirement
of McGrath and Warne, whose replacements have yet to learn about winning
matches in different conditions. Australia have reasons to be satisfied
with their batting, especially after their commendable performance in
the last Test when they held their nerve facing India's mammoth
first-innings total of 613-7 declared.
The tourists replied with 577 as Michael Clarke showed the way with a
hundred. Matthew Hayden, Simon Katich, Ponting and Michael Hussey
chipped in with half-centuries.
India will have a new captain in Mahendra Dhoni after the recent
retirement of Anil Kumble, but he has the experience of leading the side
in one-day and Twenty20 formats.
Dhoni has given a good account of himself in the two Tests he
captained this year in the absence of the injured Kumble, leading his
side to victory against South Africa in April and then against Australia
in the Mohali Test. India have been well-served by veterans Sachin
Tendulkar, Sourav Ganguly, Venkatsai Laxman and Rahul Dravid who were
under pressure before the series.
All of them have been performing as if they have a point to prove,
which is a good sign for the hosts. |
