Thaindian News

Adelaide, Jan 25 (IANS) India pacer Ishant Sharma said that the team remains positive despite trailing Australia by a huge 543 runs in the first innings on the second day of the fourth and the final Test at the Adelaide Oval here Wednesday.

Ishant said the track suits Indian batsmen and the team was confident of surpassing Australia’s first innings score of 604 for seven.

“Obviously, we are positive. Even in 2003, they scored 550-odd runs but we won the game. We are looking for next three good days. This is a kind of track like you have in India. It’s a good track for us to score runs,” said Ishant.

Ishant said the team hasn’t been exposed to the harsh criticism back home.

“When we are playing abroad, it’s good for us. We don’t watch TV or anything. Even our family doesn’t talk about it. Except cricket, we talk about everything,” he said.

Asked if he was unlucky as he went wicketless in 30 overs and gave away 100 runs, Ishant said: “Am I the unluckiest bowler? You can’t say that because cricket is a funny game. You never know what’s going to happen next. All you can do is to hope for the best.”

“When you choose fast bowling, it’s a tough job. When you are bowling on flat tracks in India and you don’t get anything out of it, you still carry on because bowling for your country is a big motivation. That remains the most important thing for me,” he said.

Asked what did Sachin Tendulkar advice him at the nets, Ishant said: “He doesn’t tell me to bowl full because he knows it’s not my natural style. He tells me to stick to my natural style, just swing a little if you can, because conditions are helpful to swing bowling. He says if you can swing, you have better chance to get them out.”

Ishant said when he comes in as one-change he needs to be patient.

“Sometimes, when I bowl as one change, the ball is not conducive for swing. In those times, you need to be patient and keep bowling in the right areas,” he said.

Ishant said on a lifeless track like the one at the Adelaide Oval, he has to vary his length.

“I know people keep saying bowl fuller. But I know what’s important for me. For me, it’s important to vary my length. That works for me. I try to work on my strength.”

“If you are bowling on a track such as this, the ball will not travel to the slips. This is a slow track, may be you need short cover, short mid-wicket. Batsmen don’t only get out in slips alone. In Melbourne, when they were 214 for six, you wanted to contain runs. For if a wicket falls, you are suddenly back in the game,” he said.

The lanky pacer also said that his leg has been fine since the practice match in Canberra.

“After injection in Canberra, my ankle has been perfectly fine. I don’t feel the pain, so I don’t need to consult anyone at the moment,” he said.

Defending bowling coach Eric Simmons, Ishant said: “Simmons is a nice coach and I am getting along well with him. It’s good between us, we talk a lot about bowling. He doesn’t want me to change too much with my bowling style. You never know, if we did so I would be dropped from the side as I once was. We don’t want that to happen.”

Ishant said that except at Perth, the bowlers have done a good job in all the Tests.

“Except Perth, we have bowled well. Here, even in Adelaide, we bowled well. It’s just luck is not favouring us. We are bowling in right areas and trying to be patient. Wicket is flat. We are also unlucky. We are beating bats, getting edges but it’s falling short of fielders. You can’t do much. Hopefully luck would favour us,” he said.