Katich - We weren't defensive
Centurion says India bowling strategy worked well
Last Updated: November 8, 2008 2:26pm
Katich: Not defensive
Simon Katich has rejected the notion that Australia's batsmen were overly defensive after they failed to make a commanding first-innings score on day three of the fourth Test against India.
Katich, who completed his fifth Test century in Nagpur on Saturday, instead accused India of negative tactics - the hosts' bowlers operating to a packed off-side field in an effort to slow the run-rate.
Chasing India's first-innings total of 441, Australia made 355 in a match they need to win to square the Border-Gavaskar Trophy series.
"You are kidding me, are you not? We were the defensive with an 8-1 field?" Katich told a news conference when asked about the first session, in which Australia added just 42 runs.
"(Michael) Hussey and I were pretty content to try and wait it out and then review it later in the day," Katich added.
"Unfortunately that didn't happen due to both of us getting out. When that doesn't come off, it doesn't look great.
"It is good strategy if you can execute it. If you don't get it right, you can pay a price but they (India) executed it well.
"That is the bottom line."
Negative
Meanwhile, India paceman Ishant Sharma, who took two wickets, stood by their strategy.
"I don't think it was a negative line. You can see that some balls, Hussey and Katich got edges and it went through the hands," he said.
"We have certain plans against every batsman. We went for a few runs the last evening, we just were bowling in our right areas.
"Obviously they are known as a very attacking team. If they are known as an attacking team, they are trying to do things but it can't go in their favour always.
"It went in our favour, that is very good for us."
Simon Katich
