Brisbane, Dec 07: Australian fast bowler Jason Gillespie today said even he was taken up by surprise when umpire Steve Bucknor ruled Sachin Tendulkar out leg before wicket off his bowling in the first cricket Test here. "It was a surprise because I had waited for so long and thought he would not be given out. It was a nice surprise when he was ruled out," said the pace spearhead.
Tendulkar was a victim of a controversial decision as TV replays showed the ball was pitched outside the off and would have missed the stumps.
Tendulkar looked stunned as Bucknor slowly raised his finger to rule him out for a three-ball duck.
Gillespie, the pick among the bowlers snaring three wickets for 45 runs, gave credit to the Indian batsmen for the way they batted on the fourth day today.
"We put the balls in the right areas and tried our best but let us give credit to the Indians who batted very well. They let a lot of balls go away and then put away the bad balls," said the lanky bowler.
"We stuck to our task but as I said credit to Indians for the way they batted."
Gillespie also had special praise for Indian skipper Sourav Ganguly and V V S Laxman.
"Ganguly batted very well. His footwork was very good and he played an attacking knock. As for Laxman there were a couple of moments when I thought he half-nicked it but he was very positive.
"Even someone like Aakash Chopra showed he values his wicket even if he did not score any run for a while," Gillespie said. Bureau Report