By IANS
Melbourne : Australian fast bowler Stuart Clark said Thursday that Sachin Tendulkar’s wicket was a prized scalp and the Australians will build the pressure on the batting maestro every time in the series.
“He was batting beautifully. Any time he gets out and you see him walking back to the pavilion (it) is the best moment for the opposing team because he is such a great player. Hopefully we can build the pressure on him every time we play and find ways to get him out,” said Clark in the post-match press conference.
Clark and Brett Lee picked up four wickets each to bundle out India for 196. Tendulkar emerged as the top scorer for India with a brisk 62 but played on to his stumps off a bouncy Clark delivery.
“Lot of credit should go to me and Lee. I didn’t give many scoring opportunities to Dravid and Jaffer and to Laxman. It’s a matter of bowling on this wicket. If you bowl badly you will go for plenty. What worked in our favour was that we got some reverse swing and that made it easy to bowl,” said Lee
Clarke also praised left-arm spinner Brad Hogg, who picked up another important wicket of Sourav Ganguly (43).
“I think Indians tried to get after him (Hogg) to put him off in this game and they played some shots like the slog sweeps from Sachin and one shot down the, which indicated to me that they were trying to put him on back foot. And he stood upto it and bowled magnificently. He is going to play a big role for Australia’s spinning department,” said Clark.
“It was nice to get out there today, get a few wickets and make some of the doubters who thought I shouldn’t be in the team to think otherwise,” said Clark.
Lee also chipped in and added: “Hoggy bowled well. He is a kind of player every team dreams of having. He picked up the crucial wicket of Sourav Ganguly and bowled him with a perfect flipper that caught him on the back-foot.”
On the slow and low MCG track, Clark said: “The wicket is getting hard for batting as the match progresses, but if you bowl badly here, then you will go for runs,” Clarke said.
Lee also echoed similar views regarding the MCG wicket.
“The MCG wicket is slow and low wicket and patience is what we need to build our momentum. Mitchell Johnson bowled brilliantly in the morning and I thought he could have picked up two three wickets. Hopefully he should turn things around in the next innings,” he said.
Lee picked up four wickets for 46 runs and achieved another milestone in his career as he picked up 250 Test wickets.
“It feels fantastic…When I was of nine years of age I thought of playing one Test match at a time and now when I am in the 250 club it is a special moment. I was praying the Adam Gilchrist caught that and today I am a very proud man. Mentally and physically I am in great state of mind. I am enjoying my cricket,” he said.