Australia skipper Ricky Ponting on Wednesday blamed poor batting in the second innings combined with some inept bowling for the crushing 0-2 series defeat against India.
"In these two games, we lost because of our ineffective batting in the second innings. We were one bowler short in Mohali and the bowlers have been disappointing. If there had been a three-match series, still we would have lost.
"We could have won the first game and this game might have been a draw," Ponting said after the match. Talking about India's successful chase on the final day, Ponting said, "We got the big wicket of Sehwag but Vijay and Pujara put up a good partnership to upset our plans. Pujara played a great game today and was willing to take even few risks."
"Our guys could not stand up and put up good scores like them. We tried to make it but we could not. I know the Indian team has been very good on an important day like today and won the game."
Ponting said they put up nice show in the first innings throughout in the series but faltered in the second.
"We played very well for majority in the first Test match. The same was the case in this Test match too. I think the first Test was great example of that.
"But as for the positives, Johnson and Helfinhaus has been very good and Shane Watson did well as a top order batsmen for us. Tim Paine to me has looked a very class batsman. He has not been consistent though," he said.
Ponting said he was surprised when Pujara was sent at three.
"I was little bit surprised. I suppose the decision must have been he did not do much batting in the first innings and also I looked at Dravid's record in Bangalore and it was not great. I was bit more proactive," he said.
The Aussie skipper was not impressed by his bowlers especially off-spinner Nathan Haurtiz.
"I am really disappointed about the way Hauritz bowled in this game. Our batsmen handled the Indian bowlers well by sending them over the park yesterday."
"We need to do some work on the reverse swing bowling and we got to deliver them when we have the ball in our hands." Ponting also said Pujara and Suresh Raina have the ability to take place of senior Indian batsmen, who may retire after some time.
"I think Raina and Pujara could come and back up for his predecessors in the batting order. The greater challenge would be whether they will maintain their standards.
"For the Australian cricket it has been the challenge for the last three or four years. Once the very experienced and solid players moved on (retired) the next crop of young guys need to stand up and start playing the game. It will be interesting to see how we develop our team in the next couple of years," he said.
On his failure to score a century despite three good starts, he said," I am really disappointed that I did not get hundred plus scores from my three good performances. When you get a good start you need to capitalize on it.
Poor batting, bad bowling did us in: Ponting
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