Chennai: The Australian by nature play aggressive cricket and the credit to humble them goes to the whole team, India all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja said on Monday.
Australia are on the verge of losing the series-opener as they have a mere 40-run lead with just one wicket in hand, going into the last day of the match.
Asked to compare the batting of England, who defeated India in the last home series, and Australians, Jadeja said the tourists play with much positively.
"Australian have this ego...They try to play more positive. If they have played three, four overs maiden, they show aggression, so that they don`t come under pressure. But this wicket has been turning through the match, and we`ve bowled well, Aswhin has bowled well, Bhajju pa has bowled well. Everyone has played his role," Jadeja said.
Ashwin took five wickets in the second innings and Harbhajan Singh scalped two.
"Now, we`ve got to take their last wicket quickly and the runs that are left to score, 50-55 or whatever, get them," Jadeja, who took two wickets, said.
The young player gave thumbs up to the pitch at the M A Chidamabram stadium, saying it still has something for fast bowlers despite favouring spinners.
"It`s a good wicket. In Indian conditions, there are such wickets. In Test cricket, you win only if you get 20 wickets. And the centre of the wicket is not damaged, so it`s good for fast bowlers. Whatever wear and tear has happened, it`s happened due to the footmarks of the bowlers, and it`s at the ends of the wicket. I think it`s a good wicket for Test cricket," Jadeja said.
"There is turn in the wicket, everyone knows that, everyone can see that. But sometimes, there’s more turn than usual, which you don’t really need. Mainly, we’ll have to bowl in the right areas."
Asked how he would be like to known, a batting or bowling all-rounder, Jadeja said he does not care much about the tag and just want to score runs and take wickets.
"As you said, I had two triple centuries in the Ranji season, and obviously for my state team I bat at No. 4 for six years. I came into the Ranji Trophy team as a batsman. I don’t think about what I should consider myself. I only think that I should play for India, and score runs and take wickets. If I do only one of the two, my image of an all-rounder won't be there. So I have to make improvements in both departments," he said.
Talking about his batting and dismissal, Jadeja said since he was not getting runs, desperation was there.
"Every time you play for India, pressure is there. I played 45 balls, I was set, so there was that time of 15-20 minutes, I should have got runs more easily. But was a bit nervous, because the shots I was playing, I was not getting the runs? So at that time, I left that ball and it hit the stumps. I should have played more carefully at that time. Can't say there was pressure, but I wasn’t getting runs, so I was looking for runs."
He also said that he needs to add more variety to his bowling to be successful in Test cricket.
"Yes, absolutely. As I play more matches, I'll learn more. From players, from seeing different wickets. I'll discuss with my teammates, coaches, to add variations to my game. It depends on what sort of wicket is there, how it’s behaving," he said.
PTI
First Published: Monday, February 25, 2013, 18:47