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16:06 GMT, Monday, 13 October 2008 17:06 UK

India approach frustrates Ponting

Australia Ricky Ponting (left) congratulates Sourav Ganguly (right) after India batted out for a draw on the final day in Bangalore

Australia captain Ricky Ponting said India had a negative approach during the drawn first Test on Monday.

"We were the only ones trying to take the game forward," said Ponting after India finished on 177-4 having been set an unlikely winning target of 299.

"We played aggressive cricket. I am not surprised by the way they played, the Indian team play a lot of drawn games. We dominated this Test match."

The sides now head to Mohali for the second Test, which starts on Friday.

Ponting said he went into the final day in Bangalore expecting "a really good contest".

"We got some extra runs we thought might have needed. We gave it our best shot with the ball but we just didn't create enough opportunities," he added.

606: DEBATE
"The ideal line-up for Test 2: Sehwag, Sachin, VVS, Dravid, Ganguly, Gambhir, Dhoni, Zaheer, Harbhajan, Munaf, Ishant - though it looks likely that Kumble will play"
CROUCHING-TIGER

"We could not win it at the end, but it was a pretty good start to the series for us."

India paceman Zaheer Khan, who was man-of-the-match after claiming five wickets in the tourists' first innings and also scoring an unbeaten 57, said Australia's failure to force victory meant they would be under more pressure in the rest of the series.

"They know they can't take our 20 wickets. They couldn't get me and Bhajji (Harbhajan Singh) out, what else do you want? They are under pressure, we know that," he said.

"On a fifth day wicket their spinners couldn't do us any harm. That tells everyone what their spin attack is all about.

"Even their pacers, they didn't look like getting a wicket, especially on the fifth day on a wicket like this."



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Related to this story:

Indian batsmen defy Australians (13 Oct 08 |  Cricket )
Australian pair dent Indian hopes (12 Oct 08 |  Cricket )
Johnson blows leave India adrift (11 Oct 08 |  Cricket )
Hussey knock keeps Aussies on top (10 Oct 08 |  Cricket )
Gritty Ponting ton holds up India (09 Oct 08 |  Cricket )
Australia in India 2008 (09 Apr 08 |  Cricket )

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