By IANS
Sydney : Getting two crucial wickets of Rahul Dravid and V.V.S. Laxman towards the end saw Australia end the second day once again on a high note. Pacer Brett Lee, speaking for the hosts, was elated with those late successes Thursday.
“For us to go in with one wicket down at the end would have been a different story, but to get those last two were brilliant. We’re in a pretty good spot now,” said Lee, who in the morning scored 59 as Australia went past the 450-mark.
Australia closed the second day by grabbing both Dravid and Laxman as India finished at three down for 216 in reply to Australia’s 463. Dravid and Laxman had just been engaged in a 175-run stand for the second wicket, a time when the Indian batting did what is expected of it, despite Dravid struggling for a good part of that.
Then just as it seemed they might stay together till the end of day’s play, they were dismissed within six deliveries of each other.
Brad Hogg, who was brought into the attack only in the 42nd over, snared Laxman after the latter had made a superb 109. Soon after that, Mitchell Johnson finally removed Dravid (53) as he slashed into the hands of Matthew Hayden at first slip.
“Those were crucial wickets right at the end there. It was great to get Laxman and Dravid, they were batting beautifully,” Lee said. “The Australian way is to hang in there and we always think we’ve a chance of taking wickets, especially late in the day.”
Talking of Sachin Tendulkar, who was on nine when stumps were drawn, and Sourav Ganguly, who was on 21, Lee added: “It’s going to be a fine test, bowling against Sachin. We’ll try to tie him up and keep the right line and length.”
Speaking about Adam Gilchrist’s lapses behind the stumps, Lee remarked: “It happens, batsmen play bad shots, bowlers bowl bad balls, sometimes wicketkeepers miss catches.
“Gilly has got great hands, which he showed with the way he kept in the last game, and he will forget what happened and take some spectacular catches. There was a bit of bad luck with our fielding, but we stuck at our guns. You have days like that and unfortunately the luck went to the batsmen.”
Gilchrist dropped two fairly easy catches behind the stumps, and Johnson was called for no ball when Dravid earlier on gave a catch to Ricky Ponting.
Still, as they walked off the field, the Australians had an extra spring in their walk.