Thaindian News

Melbourne, Dec 26 (IANS) India’s fastest bowler on the Australia tour Umesh Yadav said he would cherish Ricky Ponting’s scalp the most among his three wickets on the opening day of the Boxing Day Test Monday. He, however, had mixed feelings at the end of the day after conceding almost five runs an over.

Yadav, playing in his third Test, bowled with a lot of fire and got the ball to move, especially in the morning session.

The 24-year-old from Nagpur was rewarded for his effort with the key wickets of opener David Warner, one-drop Shaun Marsh and former Australia captain Ponting, who played well for his 62 in his team’s 277 for six at the close of play.

Warner (37) gloved a rising ball to the wicket-keeper, Marsh (0) played a loose shot to be caught at backward point, but Yadav bowled the best ball to get rid of Ponting. The veteran batsman could not help edging a delivery that bounced and cut away sharply.

Yadav said though all three wickets were special, Ponting’s was the most satisfying.

“I would not say any one wicket was special. All three were. As I am touring Australia for the first time, I will take whatever comes my way. I am happy that I could do my bit for the team,” Yadav told reporters at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.

“No doubt, it was exciting to bowl to Ponting, I was a bit nervous bowling to him,” he said.

On being hit for 96 runs in 20 overs, Yadav said: “I took wickets, but gave away far too many runs. So I have got mixed feelings at the end of the day.”

Yadav thanked Sachin Tendulkar for guiding him during his spells.

“He always boosts my confidence while standing at mid-off or mid-on. He does not tell me anything in particular and just asks me to bowl in my areas. Today, he told me that it is important to bowl a fuller length in Australia,” he added.