‘Indians were defensive by sending night watchman’

Having smashed a century to bring Australia back into the third Test, vice-captain Michael Clarke said India were defensive in their approach.

Having smashed a century to bring Australia back into the third Test, vice-captain Michael Clarke said India were defensive in their approach as they sent Ishant Sharma as the night watchman on Saturday.

“Now we are in a good position. We’ve seen India sending out a night watchman today, which tells you that they have been pretty defensive in their approach,” Clarke said after the fourth and penultimate day’s play.

“It will tell you tomorrow, only one team would go for the win and it’s Australia. India would not set any target tomorrow, they showed it by deciding to send a night watchman.”

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Asked if he was expecting a result, Clarke said, ‘certainly’.

“We’ll try to get a couple of early wickets tomorrow. We’ll be attacking tomorrow, will try to get some early wickets, so hope we can bowl them out tomorrow,” he said.

Clarke said the pitch was turning now and it would not be easy to get runs.

“Initially, it was not easy getting the first 10 runs. The pitch is turning quite a bit and it would turn even more tomorrow,” he said.

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On Kumble playing with injury in the little finger of his left hand, the Australian batsman said, “It was absolutely unfortunate for him, even though I’m not sure what kind of injury it is. But the fact that he still took the field and bowled is great for him and great for the Indian team as well.”