Krejza: Dravid the best
08 November, 2008

Australia's Jason Krejza revealed claiming the scalp of Rahul Dravid has so far been the stand-out moment of his stunning Test debut against India.

An eight-wicket haul by the off-spinner enabled Australia to battle their way back into the fourth Test in Nagpur on Friday, Krejza's efforts seeing the hosts slump from 311 for five at the start of the day to 441 all out.

Krejza dismissed Dravid, Virender Sehwag and VVS Laxman on Thursday before picking off Sourav Ganguly and Mahendra Singh Dhoni in quick succession just after lunch on day two.

He then dismissed Zaheer Khan, Amit Mishra and Ishant Sharma as India's tail faltered, but he revealed it was his maiden Test wicket that will live longest in the memory.

"The first wicket definitely was my most memorable and getting Rahul Dravid was great," he said.

"I had worked it out in my mind and it came out as I had planned."

The New South Wales player was overlooked for the first three Tests of the series after struggling in a warm-up match at the start of the tour.

However, the lack of a quality specialist spinner had seen Australia fall to a 1-0 deficit in the series, and Krejza was handed his first Test cap for the final game of the series.


Krejza added that the dismissal of Ganguly - his fifth wicket of the match - was key, coming as it did in the same over that he had sent Dhoni back to the pavilion and also ushering in India's ineffective tailenders.

"Ganguly's wicket was crucial," the 25-year-old said.

"His wicket was a good one for me. There isn't much help bowling against left-handers and to get him we had to change our field a bit."

"I gave myself more protection so that I could attack and got him."

Krejza's eight wickets were expensive - coming at a cost of 215 runs - but he was nevertheless delighted with his overall performance.

"It was important for us to get those wickets," he said.

"I was just trying to keep my emotions under control. It's a bit of a blur still."

"It's incredible to achieve a feat like that against the best players of spin in the world."

Krejza's efforts ensured the tourists had plenty of time to rack up a decent first-innings reply. Simon Katich hit 92 not out as Australia reached stumps on 189 for two.

Matthew Hayden and Ricky Ponting the wickets to fall.


India seizes control
08 November, 2008

Shane Watson India turned the fourth Test of the Border-Gavaskar series back in their favour by claiming three quick wickets before tea on the third day to take the shine off Simon Katich's earlier ton for Australia.

Katich, handed a huge slice of luck when he was dropped on 94 by Rahul Dravid in the second over of the day off Ishant Sharma, made 102 as he and Michael Hussey paired for a gritty 155-run stand for the third wicket.

But Hussey was dismissed 10 runs short of a century while Michael Clarke (eight) and Shane Watson (two) were also sent back to the pavilion in quick succession as Australia slipped from 3-231 at lunch to 6-280 by the tea interval.

Brad Haddin and Cameron White were both unbeaten on seven as Australia reached the break still 161 runs adrift of India's first-innings total of 441.

India captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni had surprisingly rested on his heels in the morning as the bowlers played a waiting game.

Zaheer Khan and Ishant concentrated on a line outside off stump in 18 overs of unbroken pace in the morning, a tactic that almost paid off when Katich fell into the trap, edging to first slip only for Dravid to drop the chance.

Katich, who resumed from his overnight 92, completed his century by steering Ishant to third man for his ninth boundary of the innings, but fell to a reverse-swinging yorker from Zaheer just before lunch.

India conceded just 42 runs in the first session of day three as Hussey continued to offer resistance, bringing up his half-century with an edge which fell between Dravid and VVS Laxman in the slips.

But the left-hander eventually fell to a fine piece of fielding from debutant Murali Vijay for 90.


Hussey steered a delivery from Harbhajan Singh just past Vijay at silly point and set off for a single. Vijay, however, lunged and collected, throwing the ball back to the middle which Dhoni deflected on the stumps with Hussey short of the crease.

Clarke had already been sent packing by that point, Ishant inducing an edge which was caught behind by Dhoni.

Watson fell when he reached forward to defend a top spinner from Harbhajan only to have the ball roll back and rattle the stumps.

Haddin and White were subjected to an intense examination from India's spinners but survived unscathed to the interval.