CRICKET:MICHAEL CLARKE'S unbeaten 329 laid the foundation for his team's crushing victory over India in the second Test in Sydney yesterday but the Australia captain was quick to pay credit to his bowlers for the win.
Australia bowled India out for 191, declared on 659 for four in their own first innings, then bowled the tourists out again for 400 to secure an innings and 68-run victory and go 2-0 up in the four-match series.
“I thought the way we bowled in the first innings set the Test match up for us,” Clarke (30) said.
“To be able to take 10 wickets on a really flat wicket out there today they deserve a lot of credit. They continue to perform in any conditions, which is very pleasing for us.”
Quick bowlers Ben Hilfenhaus, Peter Siddle and James Pattinson, who will miss the remainder of the series through injury, shared the 10 wickets between them in the first innings, with Hilfenhaus taking the lion’s share with 5-106 in the second.
Clarke also made a vital contribution with the ball, accounting for Indian kingpin Sachin Tendulkar with his left-arm spin for 80, as his wait to score his 100th international century goes on.
“I think we have wicket-taking bowlers in our attack, we have guys who can get a breakthrough, that’s probably one of the most pleasing things as a captain,” Clarke added.
“You can turn to any one of our bowlers to try and take a wicket, so that makes life easier for me. We’re able to build up pressure at the moment, we’re bowling a lot of dot balls, we’re bowling a lot of maidens, we’re restricting the batsmen and that’s what’s taking wickets.
“Against very good players you have to build up pressure because if you think one-off balls are going to get six or seven of the best batsmen in the world out, you’re in for a rude shock.
“You need the whole bowling attack, and the whole team performing and that’s what we’re doing at the moment.”
It was left to his predecessor as captain Ricky Ponting, who scored his first century in nearly two years with a 134, to pay fitting tribute to the batting performance that lit up the test.
“It’s been an amazing four days for us. We set it up on the first day with some fantastic bowling but our batting was as good as I have seen any cricket team bat,” he said. “The way Michael Clarke played. You look at his innings, 329 not out and he hardly mis-hit a ball, hardly played and missed, it was some amazing batting.”
Clarke said although there would be plenty of celebrations, the job was not yet done with two Tests against India remaining in Perth, starting next Friday, and Adelaide. “We know there’s a long way to go,” he said. “We’re going to celebrate tonight, don’t get me wrong, but come tomorrow, we start preparations for Perth.”
Day four. Overnight: India 191 114-2, Australia 659-4.
INDIA – Second innings
G Gambhir c Warner b Siddle 83
V Sehwag c Warner b Hilfenhaus 4
R Dravid b Hilfenhaus 29
S Tendulkar c Hussey b Clarke 80
VVS Laxman b Hilfenhaus 66
V Kohli lbw b Pattinson 9
MS Dhoni c b Hilfenhaus 2
R Ashwin c Lyon b Hilfenhaus 62
Z Khan c Marsh b Siddle 35
I Sharma lbw b Lyon 11
U Yadav not out 0
Extras (b6, lb3, w2, nb8) 19
Total (110.5 overs) 400
Fall: 1-18, 2-100, 3-168, 4-271, 5-276, 6-286, 7-286, 8-342, 9-384.
Bowling: Pattinson 23-4-106-1; Hilfenhaus 32.5-8-106-5; Siddle 24-8-88-2; Lyon 20-2-64-1; Clarke 9-0-22-1; Hussey 2-0-5-0.
Australia won by an innings and 68 runs.
