India complained about it from day one. The five-letter word 'grass' was their bone of contention. Too much grass on the pitch, they feared, would be to the advantage of the Australians in the third Test. By day 3 of the match, Jason Gillespie had rubbed salt into their wounds.
"The wicket was green and it seamed a little. There was good bounce and a bit of a carry. Most Indian wickets are slow and low," said Gillespie, after the third day's play in the third Test.
"In 2001 when we played, there wasn't a single blade of grass, except on the outfield," he added.
Gillespie claimed his first five-wicket haul in India on Thursday and, in the process, went past former leg-spinner Clarrie Grimmett in the list of leading wicket-takers for Australia.
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"It is always good to get past some of the former greats. It is nice; very humbling to be able to do that," he said.
Australia skittled India out for 185 in the morning, with Gillespie claiming three of the five wickets to fall.
The hosts, who trailed by 213 runs after the first innings, are now staring at defeat.
"We are 415 runs ahead, and with seven wickets to go in the second innings I reckon we are in a very strong position," he said.
'Dizzy' was appreciative of the support he received from his fellow-bowlers and said the Australians were able to build pressure on the Indian batsmen throughout the innings.
"Figures-wise this was my best performance in India. I think I was lucky to be riding on the great bowling of Glenn McGrath and Michael Kasprowicz, and Shane Warne, I suppose. All these guys always back you up; that's the beauty of the Australian side.
"To be fair to the Indian batsmen, there was some good bowling thereĀ and to back that up with very good fielding. We were putting pressure on them.
"Today, there was a period after lunch when our batsmen struggled and were kept under check by the Indian bowlers. So it's not the easiest wicket to bat on," Gillespie opined.
He felt the Australian batsmen are responsible for the healthy position the team is in.
"Damien Martyn is just a superb player. In a match where most of the batsmen struggled to score runs he scored that century; Michael [Clarke] scored a 91 in the first innings and now Simon Katich played to 99. And this despite India bowling well."
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