Fielding errors helped Aussies come back: Kirsten

Dropped catches and an unimpressive bowling helped Australia come back into the third cricket Test on the fourth and penultimate day, rued India coach Gary Kirsten.

Dropped catches and an unimpressive bowling helped Australia come back into the third cricket Test on the fourth and penultimate day, rued India coach Gary Kirsten.

“It was not a great time on the field for us today. Fielding errors helped the Aussies come back into the match,” Kirsten said after India ended the fourth day at 43 for two, an overall lead of 79 runs.

“We started today thinking of really doing something. But we did not take our opportunities. It did not go that way,” he said.

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The former South African opener admitted the errors could have a bearing on the match.

“The first catch that Ishant Sharma dropped could have a bearing on the match. It’s not the same with other two dropped catches because Australia had crossed the 500 mark by then. I don’t think we bowled well enough to create those opportunities for ourselves after the lunch. But Aussies took their chances and capitalised on them as well. It can have a huge bearing on the match,” he said.

Kirsten, however, did not feel that India missed Harbhajan Singh, who is recuperating from a toe injury.

“Harbhajan would have added value to the team, he is a tremendous bowler. But I think we have enough variety and options in the spin department for the Test. You just have to create the opportunities,” he said.