‘We need fit bowlers and quick wickets on Thursday’
18 Dec 2014 1:05 AM GMT
Australia coach Darren Lehmann praised his team for enduring a tough opening day of the second cricket Test at the Gabba today but said he expects them to come up with a better showing against India on Thursday.
Riding on opener Murali Vijay's hundred, India finished the first day on 311-4 even as Australia struggled with their fitness in brutal Brisbane heat on Wednesday. “It was a hard day in terms of conditions. We had a few good periods with the ball, especially in the second session,” Lehmann told reporters.
“But in the end, we didn't have a good third session. It is hard to put the ball in right areas when you have so many players pulling up due to cramps or injuries. Obviously the heat affected their skills and it was like a revolving door today. But these are excuses and we are better than that. Overall I think we had a good day. I haven't experienced a day like that as coach or as player, so that says something. It was an eventful day for us. Obviously it would have been nice to have the full contingent on the park after the day's play out there. But it happens in cricket sometimes and hopefully won't happen again,” he added.
Riding on opener Murali Vijay's hundred, India finished the first day on 311-4 even as Australia struggled with their fitness in brutal Brisbane heat on Wednesday. “It was a hard day in terms of conditions. We had a few good periods with the ball, especially in the second session,” Lehmann told reporters.
“But in the end, we didn't have a good third session. It is hard to put the ball in right areas when you have so many players pulling up due to cramps or injuries. Obviously the heat affected their skills and it was like a revolving door today. But these are excuses and we are better than that. Overall I think we had a good day. I haven't experienced a day like that as coach or as player, so that says something. It was an eventful day for us. Obviously it would have been nice to have the full contingent on the park after the day's play out there. But it happens in cricket sometimes and hopefully won't happen again,” he added.
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