Sydney, Jan 3 (IANS) Australia’s young fast bowling sensation James Pattinson, who picked up four for 43, feels that the Indian batsmen have been intimidated with the aggression of the Australian quicks.
The Indian batting collapsed yet again and were bundled out for 191 runs in their first innings in the second Test against Australia. Pattinson took four wickets while the experienced duo of Peter Siddle and Ben Hilfenhaus shared three each on the opening day of the 100th Test at the Sydney Cricket Ground.
‘I think they (India) are probably intimidated about the way we are bowling, the areas we are bowling, we are not giving them any loose balls,’ Pattinson told reporters.
‘For them they have probably got it in their mind ‘where are we going to score’, because they are not getting any loose balls at the moment. Intimidation comes with us bowling really well,’ he said referring to their nagging off-stump line to the struggling Indian batters.
Sachin Tendulkar and V.V.S. Laxman, who have an impressive record at the SCG, could not show much resistance against the Australian pace trio. Both fell to Pattinson with Tendulkar (41) playing on and Laxman edging a full delivery to Shaun Marsh at second slip.
Pattinson revealed how they have been able to contain Laxman so far in the series.
‘He (Laxman) has had great success against Australia in the past and that is something we have looked at, but if you bowl good balls it doesn’t matter how good they are. On your day you can get them out, and I think early on they are coming pretty hard at us, looks like they want to score.
‘That is even better from a bowlers’ point of view to have them trying to score early on, try to drive you through the covers to a ball that probably wasn’t quite there today. So it is great for us to see them wanting to do that, and if we can keep doing the right thing we will keep going with success,’ he said.
The 21-year-old said playing against the famed Indian batting line-up is bringing out the best in them.
‘The bubble around our bowling attack is amazing for the fact we are playing against such high-class opposition. We are just up for the challenge even more. If you come out on the day and don’t bowl so well they can put you right on the back foot, therefore the day travels away from you a little bit.’
On polishing off the Indian tail with short-pitch stuff, Pattinson said: ‘If you bowl a good enough short ball I think most tail-enders are pretty suspect. To be honest, I don’t like the short ball at my head. But it is just a credit to our bowlers, we are bowling really well. If you pitch the ball up or short, you have still got to bowl in the right areas, you have got to bowl nice and straight. It is something the bowlers have done really well over the last month or two that we have been playing.’
