ID :
30625
Mon, 11/17/2008 - 10:42
Auther :
Shortlink :
http://m.oananews.org//node/30625
The shortlink copeid
Gambhir's no Mr Perfect: Watson
Melbourne, Nov 16 (PTI) Gautam Gambhir does not regret elbowing Shane Watson during the just-concluded Test series as he claims the Australian had it coming after foul-mouthing him repeatedly but the man who took the blow says the Indian is no "Mr Perfect" either.
"He's obviously not Mr Perfect," Watson shot back when
asked to react on Gambhir's recent comment that he was pushed
into crossing the line by persistent Aussie sledging during
the third Test in Delhi.
Gambhir was banned for a Test for his actions while
Watson was fined 10 percent of his match fee for provoking
Gambhir.
The tension between the two notwithstanding, Watson says
he enjoys facing up to the Indian opener and a bit of "banter"
is fine in the heat of the moment.
"...he's a great competitor, he batted extremely well
against us. I actually love playing against him because you
know it's going to be a big dog-fight to get him out.
"People don't want to see robots who don't show any
emotion. They want to see people having a go," the 27-year-old
explained.
Among the many problems that plagued the Australian team
in India while they were drubbed 0-2 was a constant battle
with over-rates.
Watson says the world champions were not entirely at
fault for the sluggish over-rate as Indian batsmen sometimes
took too long a time to face up.
"Maybe making you wait (to bowl) is a way to maybe get
under your skin. As a bowler I was ready to go quite a few
times and they took time to face up," Watson was quoted as
saying by 'The Sunday telegraph'.
"There's no doubt we've got to fix it, because we don't
want to have the same situation as we did having to make up
overs and costing ourselves a Test match win," Watson added.
Poor over-rate prompted skipper Ricky Ponting to employ
part-time bowlers at a crucial juncture of the deciding fourth
Test. Critics argue that Ponting let go a chance to draw the
series with that decision but Watson says he stands by his
captain's call.
"Of course I wanted the ball because there was an
opportunity, that hour was crucial. But on the flip side, I
back Ricky 100 percent in every decision he makes," Watson
asserted.
The Australians fared poorly in India but Watson was one
the top performers for the team with both bat and ball.
The performance is likely raise his stock and he thanked
the Indian Premier League for giving him an opportunity to
rediscover himself at a time when injuries were threatening to
mar his career.
"I'm a lot more in control of what I'm doing now, where
I'm bowling the ball, what my plans are to get batsmen out.
"There's no doubt that I.P.L. was the big catalyst to
give me an opportunity back in the Australian one-day team to
start with. But I'd give anything to be able to play for
Australia," Watson said.
At USD 150,000, he was considered a bargain buy in
I.P.L.'s inaugural season this year but Watson is confident of
getting a lot more next year.
"Money is a nice bonus, and that's what the I.P.L.
presents. But we're very blessed to have the opportunity we
do, playing cricket for Australia, and we're very well looked
after. PTI PM
"He's obviously not Mr Perfect," Watson shot back when
asked to react on Gambhir's recent comment that he was pushed
into crossing the line by persistent Aussie sledging during
the third Test in Delhi.
Gambhir was banned for a Test for his actions while
Watson was fined 10 percent of his match fee for provoking
Gambhir.
The tension between the two notwithstanding, Watson says
he enjoys facing up to the Indian opener and a bit of "banter"
is fine in the heat of the moment.
"...he's a great competitor, he batted extremely well
against us. I actually love playing against him because you
know it's going to be a big dog-fight to get him out.
"People don't want to see robots who don't show any
emotion. They want to see people having a go," the 27-year-old
explained.
Among the many problems that plagued the Australian team
in India while they were drubbed 0-2 was a constant battle
with over-rates.
Watson says the world champions were not entirely at
fault for the sluggish over-rate as Indian batsmen sometimes
took too long a time to face up.
"Maybe making you wait (to bowl) is a way to maybe get
under your skin. As a bowler I was ready to go quite a few
times and they took time to face up," Watson was quoted as
saying by 'The Sunday telegraph'.
"There's no doubt we've got to fix it, because we don't
want to have the same situation as we did having to make up
overs and costing ourselves a Test match win," Watson added.
Poor over-rate prompted skipper Ricky Ponting to employ
part-time bowlers at a crucial juncture of the deciding fourth
Test. Critics argue that Ponting let go a chance to draw the
series with that decision but Watson says he stands by his
captain's call.
"Of course I wanted the ball because there was an
opportunity, that hour was crucial. But on the flip side, I
back Ricky 100 percent in every decision he makes," Watson
asserted.
The Australians fared poorly in India but Watson was one
the top performers for the team with both bat and ball.
The performance is likely raise his stock and he thanked
the Indian Premier League for giving him an opportunity to
rediscover himself at a time when injuries were threatening to
mar his career.
"I'm a lot more in control of what I'm doing now, where
I'm bowling the ball, what my plans are to get batsmen out.
"There's no doubt that I.P.L. was the big catalyst to
give me an opportunity back in the Australian one-day team to
start with. But I'd give anything to be able to play for
Australia," Watson said.
At USD 150,000, he was considered a bargain buy in
I.P.L.'s inaugural season this year but Watson is confident of
getting a lot more next year.
"Money is a nice bonus, and that's what the I.P.L.
presents. But we're very blessed to have the opportunity we
do, playing cricket for Australia, and we're very well looked
after. PTI PM
