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| December 15, 2001 | Saturday | Ramazan 29, 1422 |
‘Frustrated’ Butcher happy
AHMEDABAD, Dec 14: England opener Mark Butcher was disappointed to fall short of a Test century but happy to guide his team to a potentially winning position in the second Test against India on Friday.
“Yes, it was very frustrating,” he said after posting 92 on the fourth day.
“It was a golden circumstance to get a Test hundred. But I put the team in a sort of position from where we can push on and try and win the game.”
Butcher said the barren Ahmedabad track was showing signs of breaking up as the match enters its final day, and that England bowlers will have the upperhand in their effort to level the three-test series they trail 1-0.
“I think it is spinning there,” Butcher said.
“Every evening we have left the ground...on the next morning the pitch has looked as though it has taken a bit more of a hammering.
“There are plenty of catches (to be taken) out there. It is breaking up a little bit, a bit of dust around. There should be enough assistance for our bowlers.”
Butcher said England did not underestimate India’s ability to chase victory, but felt it will be very tough for the batsmen.
Butcher said: “Any side with (Sachin) Tendulkar is a major threat. But it will be a very tall order scoring four runs an over (on Saturday).”
Butcher, who looked in discomfort in the later part of his innings, revealed he only went out to bat after taking anti-bacterial tablets because of an upset stomach.
“I felt a bit giddy - it has not been a very comfortable day, but a very satisfying one,” he said.
Asked what instructions skipper Nasser Hussain gave the batsmen, he said the idea was to preserve wickets until lunch before attacking.
“Everything after lunch time went exactly as we planned it,” he said.—Reuters
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