Aussie debutant Marcus Harris feels hosts Australia are “still fighting, still in the contest” after India posed a heavy threat to Australia’s chances on the second day of the first Test In Adelaide on Friday. In reply to India’s 250 in the first innings, Australia are trailing by 59 runs with three wickets in hand.
“I thought they bowled really well — the run rate’s only two and a bit, so I thought they bowled really well. We stuck at it pretty well. It was a tough day. It wasn’t easy to score, so I thought we fought well. Travis Head batted well, Peter Handscomb looked good and Mitchell Starc batted well at the end. I think we’re in a decent position,” Harris was quoted as saying news agency PTI.
The opener though had a lot of praise for Indian bowlers for restricting the Aussie side to 191 for seven at close on Day Two. According to him, the hosts wanted to get on to the front foot, but the Indian bowlers put relentless pressure to restrict them.
“You can only put bowlers under pressure if they give you opportunity to put them under pressure. The wicket doesn’t let you play like that. You want to come out and blast them everywhere and be going great guns, but sometimes it’s not that way. That’s why it’s called Test cricket. We’re still fighting, still in the contest,” Harris said.
On whether Australians intended to attack the Indian bowlers, Harris said, “You want to attack all the time but sometimes it’s not that easy. The wicket wasn’t overly easy to score on, and I thought they set good fields. It was just one of those old school, hard days of Test cricket and I think it’s pretty even and both teams have bowled pretty well so far like you’ve seen.”
Harris scored 26 before India offie Ravichandran Ashwin sent him back and had a lot of praise for the off-spinner. “I’ve faced Nathan Lyon a lot and he’s pretty good. I thought Ashwin bowled really well, mixed up his pace a lot, bowled a few different variations with side spin and over spin. (Ashwin) was hard to score off and Virat set some really good fields. It wasn’t easy but hopefully we can keep finding a way,” Harris said.
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