'The pitch is different from other Indian wickets' - Gillespie
Jason Gillespie often bowls with plenty of fire with little to show for it, but he could not complain after taking 5 for 63 on the second day of the third Test at Nagpur
Anand Vasu in Nagpur
28-Oct-2004
Jason Gillespie often bowls with plenty of fire with little to show for it, but he could not complain after taking 5 for 63 on the second day at Nagpur. He brushed the tail aside with minimum fuss, and in doing so went past Clarrie Grimmett's tally of 216 Test wickets, moving up to eighth in the all-time list of Australian Test bowlers. He spoke to the press at the end of the day:
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On how the match was poised
We're 415 runs ahead and we still have seven wickets left. I'd like to think we are in a strong position going into Day Four.
We're 415 runs ahead and we still have seven wickets left. I'd like to think we are in a strong position going into Day Four.
On whether this was his best spell in India
Figures-wise it was one of the best spells. But it came on the back of great bowling by Glenn McGrath, Michael Kasprowicz and Shane Warne. I was lucky to get a couple of wickets in the end, but all these guys played really well. That's the beauty of the Australian side, it's knocking the opposition out, and it doesn't really matter who gets them.
Figures-wise it was one of the best spells. But it came on the back of great bowling by Glenn McGrath, Michael Kasprowicz and Shane Warne. I was lucky to get a couple of wickets in the end, but all these guys played really well. That's the beauty of the Australian side, it's knocking the opposition out, and it doesn't really matter who gets them.
On the main thing he has learned from bowling alongside McGrath
The one big thing would be to just put the ball in the right areas again and again. This builds up pressure and often results in partnerships being broken.
The one big thing would be to just put the ball in the right areas again and again. This builds up pressure and often results in partnerships being broken.
On the pitch
The wicket was green and had a bit of carry. It was so different from most of the Indian wickets, which are flat, low and suit the spinners.
The wicket was green and had a bit of carry. It was so different from most of the Indian wickets, which are flat, low and suit the spinners.
On whether he was surprised that the Indian batsmen did not counter-attack at any point
To be honest, it was good bowling out there. When you got guys like McGrath, Kasprowicz and Warne bowling tight, it becomes very difficult to score. Zaheer [Khan] and Ajit [Agarkar] too did the same for India after lunch with some good bowling as Justin Langer and Simon Katich struggled, but were lucky to get through that phase without much damage.
To be honest, it was good bowling out there. When you got guys like McGrath, Kasprowicz and Warne bowling tight, it becomes very difficult to score. Zaheer [Khan] and Ajit [Agarkar] too did the same for India after lunch with some good bowling as Justin Langer and Simon Katich struggled, but were lucky to get through that phase without much damage.
On not enforcing the follow-on
We could have gone either way. I am not the captain so I can't comment. We were in a strong position when we bowled out India in the morning. We could strengthen our position by some good batting, and we did that.
We could have gone either way. I am not the captain so I can't comment. We were in a strong position when we bowled out India in the morning. We could strengthen our position by some good batting, and we did that.
On what sort of lead would be enough
No idea. I am not going to speculate on how many runs we need. We will just keep batting and look at tomorrow afternoon to have a bowl at India.
No idea. I am not going to speculate on how many runs we need. We will just keep batting and look at tomorrow afternoon to have a bowl at India.
On whether Damien Martyn's knock in the first innings was the difference between the two sides
Damien was awesome on the first day. In a game where most of the batsmen have struggled to score, to get a hundred was great. Michael Clarke made 90 and Simon made 99 today which means we played really good.
Damien was awesome on the first day. In a game where most of the batsmen have struggled to score, to get a hundred was great. Michael Clarke made 90 and Simon made 99 today which means we played really good.
On going past Clarrie Grimmett's record of 216 Test wickets
It's always nice to pass former Australian greats. It's very humbling to do that. But at the end of the day it's just a number.
It's always nice to pass former Australian greats. It's very humbling to do that. But at the end of the day it's just a number.