MUMBAI, Nov 5: Australian captain Ricky Ponting hit out at the crumbling wicket prepared for the final Test against India after the tourists lost in less than three days on Friday.
"What can you say of a wicket which lasted only two days," said Ponting after the 13-run defeat took some sheen off Australia's first series win on Indian soil in 35 years.
Australia won 2-1 after taking the first and third Tests. The second was drawn. After just 11 overs were bowled on the rain-ravaged opening day, 18 wickets fell on the second day and 20 on the third to end the match in quick time at the Wankhede stadium.
The Test was played over less than 15 of the scheduled 30 hours. "It is not fair on the players and and also the fans, who were robbed of good cricket," Ponting said. "But one has to give India credit for performing better than us on this wicket. We will head home satisfied that we have finally won a Test series in India, but the disappointment of losing the last match will remain for some time."
Former Indian captain Polly Umrigar, who prepared the Wankhede stadium strip, defended the work done by his ground staff. "I do not care what others say, my verdict is that the batsmen did not apply themselves," said Umrigar, a renowned Test batsman of the 1960s.
"The wicket was not as difficult as it is being made out to be. Batsmen willing to play shots got ample opportunities." When India and Australia last played a Test at the Wankhede stadium in 2001, the match also lasted three days. But it was the fast bowlers who did most of the damage in Australia's 10-wicket win.
Indian captain Rahul Dravid, standing in for the injured Sourav Ganguly, said he felt "much better" after the consolation win. "It was not a good series for us, but at least we salvaged something from it at the end. It makes me feel much better. Everyone contributed to the win.
"The spinners did their job well, but I think it was the 91-run stand between Sachin (Tendulkar) and (Venkatsai Laxman) in the second innings that gave us something to defend." -AFP
