Ganguly blames batsmen for defeat

Kunal Pradhan

India captain Sourav Ganguly said on Thursday that poor batting had let his team down in their humiliating 10-wicket defeat to Australia in the first Test.

But Ganguly and India's New Zealand coach John Wright said there is nothing to panic about and they would work on strategy to stage a comeback in the three-Test series.

Ganguly told reporters after his side had been beaten with more than two days to spare that an outstanding innings by Australian vice-captain Adam Gilchrist had also made a huge contribution to India's defeat.

Gilchrist hammered 122 in 112 balls in Australia's first innings to lift his side from 99 for five towards their ultimate total of 349.

"I have never seen a better knock on a turning wicket. He was hitting the ball over mid-wicket to an off-spinner on a square turner. He just smashed us out of the Test," Ganguly said.

He said poor Indian batting in both innings -- they were dismissed for 176 and 219 -- had been a big disappointment.

"It's very difficult to come back after scoring just 176 in the first innings. We just didn't bat well in this test and that cost us dearly," Ganguly said.

He said his team threw away their chances in the second innings after Sachin Tendulkar and Rahul Dravid had built a third-wicket partnership to come within 22 runs of wiping out the Australian lead.

"At that point we were just 20-odd runs behind the Aussies. I wasn't thinking of any target but thought we would just bat as long as we could. Chasing 250 on a wicket as tough as this could have been very difficult," Ganguly said.

"But Sachin was unlucky to get out and then I got run out and we just got under pressure and folded up," he said.

Tendulkar fell to a diving catch by Ricky Ponting at midwicket after his pull off Mark Waugh bounced off forward short leg fielder Justin Langer's shoulder and Ganguly made just one run to be dismissed next.

Work required

Ganguly said there were two more tests to go and his side would have to work on a few areas ensure they put up a better fight in Calcutta and Madras.

"We have just finished the test match. We need to sit down and work on a few strategies because we can't allow someone like Gilchrist to come and hammer us the way he did. We have to think of a way to get him and some of the other top players out."

Wright, a former New Zealand skipper, said there was no need to panic.

"Panicking is not the answer in a situation like this," he said.

"We will analyse this match, see if we need a different kind of bowling attack, work on all aspects of our game, and take it from there."

India went into the match with two pacemen and two spinners but left out experienced leg-spinner Narendra Hirwani, having recalled him from the wilderness into the 14-man squad.

"It's very simple. If you play well you win, if you don't you lose. We have to make sure we do in the rest of the series," Ganguly added.

Mail Cricket Editor