Dhoni credits bowlers for Oz whitewash

BANGALORE - An elated Indian cricket captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni Wednesday lauded his pacers and spinners for the thumping 2-0 victory over the formidable Australians in the home series.

Dedicating the sweeping win to the Indian bowling attack, Dhoni told reporters here after the second Test that their performance was extremely good in both the Tests, which enabled the home team retain the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.

“Though as captain, I was unlucky to lose the toss twice, the bowlers performance was very good in both the Tests. The credit should go to them. Hence I am dedicating the win to them,” a much-relieved Dhoni said.

Admitting that bowling on the sub-continent’s pitches was always difficult, the winning captain said there was a need for at least four fast bowlers to ease the burden on spinners.

“In a Test match, the burden should not be only on two or three spinners but shared by an equal number of fast bowlers,” he asserted.

On chasing the modest target of 207 for clinching the Bangalore Test, Dhoni said though it was not high, the starting was worrying as the quick fall of wickets would put pressure on the middle order.

“But if you have a decent start and stay without losing wickets, then half the battle is won,” he observed.

Noting that the team discussed the target in the dressing room and decided to send Test debutant Cheteshwar Pujara one down, Dhoni praised the Rajkot lad for hitting 72.

“Pujara utilised the opportunity of sending one down in place of (Rahul) Dravid. He batted well and took up the challenge and succeeded,” Dhoni said.

On the other hand, a disappointed Aussie skipper Ricky Ponting was at loss to explain the defeat in the run up to the five-Test Ashes series against England Down Under from November 25 to the New Year.

“We should have begun our preparations by winning the Tests in India, as the Ashes series is round the corner. That series will be too crucial for us to lose. We have to concentrate in that direction,” Ponting in the customary post-match press conference after India won the second Test by seven wickets and the first Test at Mohali October 4 by one wicket.

Giving full credit to the Indians for sweeping the series, Ponting admitted that their failure to perform well with the bat in the second innings in both the twin Tests proved fatal.

“It was really disappointing. I dont blame the team, as we played very well and we should have almost won the Mohali Test. But we lost and here we should have played well in the second innings. In both the Tests if we had scored little more to the second innings totals, then we could have put pressure on the Indian side, he reflected.

Lauding Sachin Tendulkar for his sixth double century, Ponting said more his teams performance in the first innings, the 308-run third wicket partnership by the batting maestro with centurion opener Vijay (139) stole the thunder.

In the second innings, Pujara played so well that he took the match away from us, His innings was the turning point of the match, Pointing pointed out.

Ponting also praised the Indian pacers for packing off the Aussie tail-enders in the second innings by bowling reverse swing.