'200 is a gettable score'
Kumble reflects on the day's play and India's prospects
Dileep Premachandran at Chennai
12-Jul-2005
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Anil Kumble completed 13 wickets in the Test with 6 for 133 in the second innings, preventing the Australian defiance from taking the match away in the second innings. It also happened to be his birthday. Here's what he had to say about his day:
On whether he enjoyed his birthday
Bowling 46 overs? [laughter] It's been a tough day, [Damien] Martyn and [Jason] Gillespie played well, especially Martyn, and we had to do a lot of work to get them out.
Bowling 46 overs? [laughter] It's been a tough day, [Damien] Martyn and [Jason] Gillespie played well, especially Martyn, and we had to do a lot of work to get them out.
On the pitch today, and how it was different from the first day
It was slower, and it did not offer so much bounce. I had to pitch it up more than I did in the first innings.
It was slower, and it did not offer so much bounce. I had to pitch it up more than I did in the first innings.
On Martyn's innings, and how it was different from the first innings
He played mostly on the back foot, waited for the ball to come to him, and punished all the loose balls he got. He showed tremendous patience, and that is what is needed on such a pitch.
He played mostly on the back foot, waited for the ball to come to him, and punished all the loose balls he got. He showed tremendous patience, and that is what is needed on such a pitch.
On India's chase tomorrow
We need a good start. In this match the first session has been good for batting, and we need to capitalise on that. If we reach lunch in a comfortable position, we'll be well placed to win the match.
We need a good start. In this match the first session has been good for batting, and we need to capitalise on that. If we reach lunch in a comfortable position, we'll be well placed to win the match.
On Parthiv Patel's wicketkeeping
Look, a lot has been said about Parthiv, but it is a tough job that he does, especially on these kinds of wickets, where the pitch has these rough patches. It makes it worse that these decisions are shown on television again and again. He'll get better as the series gets along.
Look, a lot has been said about Parthiv, but it is a tough job that he does, especially on these kinds of wickets, where the pitch has these rough patches. It makes it worse that these decisions are shown on television again and again. He'll get better as the series gets along.
On how the Indian batsmen will fare against Shane Warne on the fifth day
He's a great bowler, but our batsmen play him well. I think 200 is a gettable score.
He's a great bowler, but our batsmen play him well. I think 200 is a gettable score.
On how he rates his performance in this Test
Quite high. It came against the No. 1 team in the world. We were one down in the series and we needed to win this desperately. Had you told us before the match started that we would be in this situation, we would have taken it.
Quite high. It came against the No. 1 team in the world. We were one down in the series and we needed to win this desperately. Had you told us before the match started that we would be in this situation, we would have taken it.
On the bowling support he got
I bowled the whole day. It's not easy for two spinners to bowl through the day. Zak [Zaheer Khan] really bowled well, and Irfan [Pathan] didn't get into his rhythm.
I bowled the whole day. It's not easy for two spinners to bowl through the day. Zak [Zaheer Khan] really bowled well, and Irfan [Pathan] didn't get into his rhythm.
On whether Pathan is fit, considering he bowled so little in the day
Yes
Yes
On whether, regarding Pathan not bowling today and Mohammad Kaif's injury a day before, they were fasting for Ramadan
No
No