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International Domestic

Leaked too many runs to tailenders: Umesh

After two days, India had the upperhand in the Brisbane Test, and the advantage was stretched further on the third day morning with two early wickets. However, after having Australia six down for 247 runs, India let the lower-order off the hook. Australia’s last four wickets fetched them 258 runs.

The Indian pacers kept pitching it short and the Aussies fetched boundaries with ease. At the end of the day India were trailing by 26 runs after conceding 505 to the opponents.

Umesh Yadav, who dismissed the two openers on the second day and got rid of Shaun Marsh on the third day morning, said bowling short to the Aussie tail was a plan that didn’t work their way.

“In the morning the ball had become very soft, so we thought it was important to bowl line and length. We did that and got two wickets as well,” Umesh said. “When the lower order batsmen came in, we decided to bowl bouncers because we saw it was causing them a bit of problem. Unfortunately we leaked runs and gave 50 runs too many.”

The Aussie tail attack was initiated by Mitchell Johnson, who plundered 88 runs off 93 balls with 13 fours and a six. It all began after some of the Indian players welcomed him at the wicket with a few words. Umesh said it is a part of game that can go either way.

“These things happen in the game. Things get aggressive, sometimes it works in your favour and other times the batsman gets fired up and scores runs. When a new batsman walks in, the fielding side tries to make him feel uncomfortable by saying a few things to him,” he said.

Of India’s inability to clean up the tail, he said, “It’s not that we are not trying to get them out. We are doing our best. Sometimes even against good bowling the batsman connects the ball well and scores runs.”

India are currently 71 for 1 in the second innings, having lost their in-form opener, Murali Vijay. After surviving the final few anxious moments of the day, Shikhar Dhawan and Cheteshwar Pujara will walk into the middle on the morning of day-four with the intent of giving India a lead good enough for a chance of win.

Umesh urged the batsmen to bat all day and give the bowlers a go at victory. “First of all we need to bat the whole day tomorrow and get a good lead. Depending on the size of lead we get, we will plan the last innings with the ball.”