'We are in a good position', says Kumble
Although Anil Kumble picked up six wickets in the first innings, he had to toil hard to pierce South Africa's dogged batting
22-Nov-2004
Although Anil Kumble picked up six wickets in the first innings, he had to toil hard to pierce South Africa's dogged batting. But he held out hope that the match could still be something of a contest if things go well for India tomorrow. And, although South Africa failed to break the Indian opening combination, their coach Ray Jennings was satisfied by his inexperienced team's performance so far in the match.
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Anil Kumble
On taking a five-wicket haul in Kanpur in three matches
I would have been lot more happier if I would have bowled fewer than those 54 overs.
I would have been lot more happier if I would have bowled fewer than those 54 overs.
On feeling disappointed with the pitch
We just need to play with whatever surface we are provided with, and go on doing our job. We always knew the Kanpur wicket was on the slower side, and we had to show that we can play good and that's what we did today when we batted. We were able to restrict South Africa and have so far batted well, so we are in a good position at the end of day three.
We just need to play with whatever surface we are provided with, and go on doing our job. We always knew the Kanpur wicket was on the slower side, and we had to show that we can play good and that's what we did today when we batted. We were able to restrict South Africa and have so far batted well, so we are in a good position at the end of day three.
On the strategy for tomorrow
Just keep batting - and get as soon as possible past the 310-mark which is not far away. Keep batting tomorrow and see what holds us from there. The wicket is still good for the batting and, with a capacity crowd, we should be able to do that.
Just keep batting - and get as soon as possible past the 310-mark which is not far away. Keep batting tomorrow and see what holds us from there. The wicket is still good for the batting and, with a capacity crowd, we should be able to do that.
On Gautam Gambhir's batting
He's done pretty well and is going for the target. And chasing a 500-plus target its not easy for a youngster in only his second Test. Hopefully he goes on to score his first hundred tomorrow and bats long.
He's done pretty well and is going for the target. And chasing a 500-plus target its not easy for a youngster in only his second Test. Hopefully he goes on to score his first hundred tomorrow and bats long.
Ray Jennings
On the day's proceedings
It was interesting day. We started off positive, though the fog was different in the morning as we haven't experienced anything like that. Then I saw really superb batting display by the Indian openers which I haven't seen for a long time, so all credit to them.
It was interesting day. We started off positive, though the fog was different in the morning as we haven't experienced anything like that. Then I saw really superb batting display by the Indian openers which I haven't seen for a long time, so all credit to them.
On whether the Indian fightback was expected
From a top side you can expect anything. Obviously the 50-50 stumping chance [Thami Tsolekile missed stumping of Virender Sehwag off Robin Petersen] didn't go our way. We could have stopped their acceleration and that put pressure on us. Both the Indian openers batted very correctly and exploited our weaknesses.
From a top side you can expect anything. Obviously the 50-50 stumping chance [Thami Tsolekile missed stumping of Virender Sehwag off Robin Petersen] didn't go our way. We could have stopped their acceleration and that put pressure on us. Both the Indian openers batted very correctly and exploited our weaknesses.
On the South African bowling
We didn't bowl in the right areas today and will be addressing that later in the evening and you will see them different tomorrow.
We didn't bowl in the right areas today and will be addressing that later in the evening and you will see them different tomorrow.
On the timing of their declaration
We are an inexperienced side and the declaration timing for us was just a sort of guarantee. We could have always attacked and sped the game up - but the fog in the morning changed our way of thinking. We were going to be a lot more cautious than normal, but we could have accelerated our game at least in one session in the last two days but I am happy to gain that experience and put the 11 players through the experience they had never had before.
We are an inexperienced side and the declaration timing for us was just a sort of guarantee. We could have always attacked and sped the game up - but the fog in the morning changed our way of thinking. We were going to be a lot more cautious than normal, but we could have accelerated our game at least in one session in the last two days but I am happy to gain that experience and put the 11 players through the experience they had never had before.