Melbourne, Dec 30: Indian captain Sourav Ganguly put his weight behind the bowlers after losing the third cricket Test against Australia, saying the fifth day wicket at the Melbourne Cricket Ground still was good to bat. "It was still a batsman friendly wicket. The series is balanced and we are looking forward to Sydney (Test)," Ganguly said after India lost the Test by 9-wickets.
Australia lost only opening batsman Justin Langer as they coasted comfortably to victory in 22.2 overs with Matthew Hayden scoring 53 not out and Ricky Ponting remaining unbeaten on 31.
Australia's retiring captain Steve Waugh was full of smiles after the series levelling win that kept alive his team's hopes of winning the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.
Waugh, who would retire at the end of the Indian series, said it was a 'great day' for him at the MCG.
"We are happy to come back into the series ... Today is a great occasion," said Waugh who made his Test debut at the same venue against the same opposition in 1985.
"Now we can look to the fight up in Sydney," said the 38-year old Waugh who is keen to finish his Test career on his home ground on a winning note.
The veteran 167 tests credited fast bowler Brad Williams with setting up his team's victory. "He bowled exceptionally well," Waugh said of Williams who picked 4-53 in India's second innings.
Man of the match Ricky Ponting, who registered his second successive double hundred in the first innings, too said the two paced drop-in pitch was a batting wicket.
"It is a batsman's wicket. The start was crucial today, and once we saw the first hour, the match was won," he said. Bureau Report