Story ProgressBack to home
We can still win if we bat well: Robin
Fielding coach Robin believes they can still end up on the winning side if their batsmen play to their strength.
- Press Trust of India
- Updated: October 13, 2008 12:40 PM IST
Read Time:2 min
Bangalore:
Australia have already taken a lead of 263 runs and chasing a target close to 300 would be daunting task on the deteriorating M Chinnaswamy pitch.
"We would have been happier if we had got a couple of wickets more but (Shane) Watson and (Brad) Haddin hung in there. If we can get a couple of quick wickets on the final morning, we can still force the issue," Robin said after the fourth day's play.
"It is now for the Aussies to set a target. I'm sure they will be doing so early tomorrow but we will have to really bat well while chasing it. There is still lot of cricket left in the match and it is difficult to predict any outcome now," he said.
Indian fielders today missed two run out three catching chances but Robin said he was satisfied with India's performance in all the three departments of the game.
"I think the fielding was reasonably good. It is not possible to convert each and every run out or stop every single taken. I think we fought back well. I'm more than satisfied with our batting, bowling and fielding," he said.
On India's recovery through tail-enders, who put up 128 runs on the Board after the exit of Sourav Ganguly, Robin said, "I think Bhajji, Zak (Zaheer), Anil and Ishant really brought us back into the match.
"We were in a spot of bother at 195 for six. It was not easy wicket to bat on and Lee, Johnson and Watson bowled really well. In that context, I think the lower order did really well to come within 70 runs of the Australian total.
"However, we will have to bat really well in the second innings if we are to make a match of it."
On the fitness of skipper Anil Kumble, who hurt his shoulder, Robin said, "Kumble is perfectly well now. He did not take the field because of a sore shoulder and it is not serious at all.
"I assure you that he will play all the matches left in the series. The team's physio is looking after him. There is no serious injury to his shoulder," he said.
Australia might have been in a strong position against India in the first cricket Test but India's fielding coach Robin believes they can still end up on the winning side if their batsmen play to their strength.Australia have already taken a lead of 263 runs and chasing a target close to 300 would be daunting task on the deteriorating M Chinnaswamy pitch.
"We would have been happier if we had got a couple of wickets more but (Shane) Watson and (Brad) Haddin hung in there. If we can get a couple of quick wickets on the final morning, we can still force the issue," Robin said after the fourth day's play.
"It is now for the Aussies to set a target. I'm sure they will be doing so early tomorrow but we will have to really bat well while chasing it. There is still lot of cricket left in the match and it is difficult to predict any outcome now," he said.
Indian fielders today missed two run out three catching chances but Robin said he was satisfied with India's performance in all the three departments of the game.
"I think the fielding was reasonably good. It is not possible to convert each and every run out or stop every single taken. I think we fought back well. I'm more than satisfied with our batting, bowling and fielding," he said.
On India's recovery through tail-enders, who put up 128 runs on the Board after the exit of Sourav Ganguly, Robin said, "I think Bhajji, Zak (Zaheer), Anil and Ishant really brought us back into the match.
"We were in a spot of bother at 195 for six. It was not easy wicket to bat on and Lee, Johnson and Watson bowled really well. In that context, I think the lower order did really well to come within 70 runs of the Australian total.
"However, we will have to bat really well in the second innings if we are to make a match of it."
On the fitness of skipper Anil Kumble, who hurt his shoulder, Robin said, "Kumble is perfectly well now. He did not take the field because of a sore shoulder and it is not serious at all.
"I assure you that he will play all the matches left in the series. The team's physio is looking after him. There is no serious injury to his shoulder," he said.
Topics mentioned in this article
Cricket Sreesanth
Get the Latest IPL 2024 Updates, check out IPL 2024 schedules and IPL points table at NDTV Sports.Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter for more sports updates. You can also download the NDTV Cricket app for Android or iOS.