Paceman Jason Gillespie had made extra efforts through an extended practice session with the bat after the third day's play which paid him and Australia rich dividends the following day in the drawn second Test against India at Chennai.
Revealing this to reporters the Aussie paceman, who was involved in a match-saving 139-run record stand for the fifth wicket with century maker Damien Martyn, said he thoroughly enjoyed frustrating Indian spinners Anil Kumble and Harbhajan Singh with the bat.
"It's (batting effort) certainly way up there (in my career). We were sort of on the back foot when we started day four. At the end of day three I had very good net practice after the day's play. I tried to bat very straight and tried watching the ball very closely," Gillespie said.
Gillespie, his pace partner Glenn McGrath and middle order batsman Darren Lehmann visited pubs, cafes and discos in and around south Mumbai as part of a three-hour promotional campaign for Foster's last night.
Gillespie, who joined Martyn as night watchman just before close of play on day three at the fall of stand-in Australian captain Adam Gilchrist's wicket, had frustrated the Indian attack for close to two entire sessions the next day.
"It was tough out there. I was intent on occupying the crease. I was fortunate enough to have an extremely good player in Martyn at the other end. I think I annoyed the hell out of Anil and Harbhajan. That's part of the fun of playing Test cricket," he said. "I was lucky enough not to get out against two of the best bowlers on the planet on a turning pitch."
The partnership between Martyn and Gillespie helped Australia set a target of over 220 runs for India to get which looked out of reach when they came together at the end of day three.
Asked about bowling on the slow pitches of India, the 29-year-old Sydney-born South Australian said it was a huge challenge for every seamer to bowl on these wickets.
"On these pitches which are batsmen-friendly the new ball doesn't remain new for long. It gets scruffed pretty fast. But as a fast bowler you should learn to bowl with the old ball. You have to work hard and need to enjoy it and the challenge that goes with it," he said.
"Glenn McGrath enjoys bowling in India. His record here is very good. It's difficult if you think it's going to be difficult and leave it at that. But if you set your mind to do well, you can succeed if you can work hard," the gangling pace bowler said.
Gillespie, who has taken 213 wickets in 56 Tests, said he was happy to see Test cricket attracting so much interest in India which, he felt, was absent in the recent past because of the attraction of one-day cricket.
"It's great to see the Indian public embracing Test cricket a lot more than before when they were more interested in one-day cricket. It's a fantastic form of cricket with so many twists and turns over five days," he said.
