 | « Back to article | Print this article |
'We won't be showing Tendulkar any sympathy'
Australia skipper Michael Clarke intensified his quest for a 4-0 whitewash on Wednesday, saying his team will not show any sympathy to Sachin Tendulkar, who was unbeaten at the end of Day 2 in the fourth Test in Adelaide, desperately seeking his 100th international century.
- Scorecard | Images from Day 2
"No, I certainly won't be showing him any sympathy. We're there to win the game. He's a wonderful player and it's going to be really tough to get him out on that wicket. But somehow we're going to have to find a way to do it twice," said Clarke, who slammed 210 during Australia's mammoth total of 604 for 7 declared in their first innings.
Even though Tendulkar is still around, Virender Sehwag (18) and Rahul Dravid (1) did not help the team's cause, being dismissed early in India's first innings.
'So far things have worked'
Even though Tendulkar is still around, Virender Sehwag (18) and Rahul Dravid (1) did not help the team's cause, being dismissed early in India's first innings.
"Sehwag is a very good player. His way to score is a lot different to mine. He has had a lot of success.
"As for Dravid getting out bowled again, I have no idea what he's feeling. Importantly, we have plans for every batter. So far things have worked," said Clarke.
'It's very nice to have scored some more runs'
On the timing of his declaration, and whether he could force the issue against India in this Test, Clarke replied, "It was probably more about the runs to be honest. Trying to get to 600 and we still had plenty of time left in the day, which was probably the most pleasing.
"To take those two crucial wickets today is a really good start for us. But there's still a lot of work to be done."
Clarke, along with Sir Donald Bradman and Walter Hammond, is only the third captain in the history of cricket to score a triple and a double century in the same series.
"I didn't know that, but it's very nice to have scored some more runs. The wicket's very flat. Ricky and I spoke early in our innings, once we got in again today, it was about going on and making big ones," he said.
"The other side of that though is it is going to take a hell lot of work to take 20 wickets on that track," Clarke said.
'We know each other's games quite well'
For the second time in this series, after putting on 288 together in Sydney, Clarke and Ponting chipped in with a massive 386-run stand.
"It's always nice to see us both scoring runs when we bat together. We've known each other for a long time, played a lot of cricket together. Both of us were disappointed with our series last summer. We've worked hard on our games to improve.
"We know each other's games quite well so we can certainly communicate to what we're seeing, if we feel like we can help. We speak a lot when we bat about what the other person has seen, to get help and advice and to keep both of us going and this innings was no different.
"It's a tough game, it's the toughest game in the world.
"For Ricky and I to have individual performances and team performance like this, it's why you train so hard. It's very satisfying. It's about enjoying the good times and when you're not doing so well it's continue to work hard and have the confidence in your own ability that things are going to turn around for you."
'The wicket is not offering much to the bowlers'
Clarke reiterated that Australia task is far from over and it wouldn't be easy to conquer the Indian batting on this track.
"Hopefully, we'll see some deterioration, especially in the back half of day four and five. Tomorrow, it's going to be pretty nice to bat on. A couple of balls stayed a little bit low. But it's as good a batting wicket as you're going to get.
"The bowlers are going to have to bowl well and we're going to have to hang on to every chance in the field. There was hardly any turn from both spinners. The wicket is not offering much to the bowlers," said Clarke.