Bengaluru, Oct 9: Indian opener Virender Sehwag on Saturday said that India were happy with Australia’s score of 285-5 at the end of Day 1 and his team would try to dismiss the visitors as soon as possible on Sunday.

The turbo-charged batsman said that the wicket was slow but he expected it to get better as the match progressed.

Excerpts

On Australia’s score of 285-5 at the end of Day 1

We are very happy with the day’s score. The way they started we thought they would end up with 300 or 350 on Day 1. But 285/5 is good total for us especially after Suresh Raina got Ricky Ponting’s wicket. Ponting looked set and if he had stayed till the end he would have scored quickly. But after his dismissal they got defensive.

On the Bengaluru crowd

We are happy to play here in front of the Bangalore crowd. They always come to cheer us when we play a Test. Hopefully they will come for all four [remaining] days.

On the bad light necessitating an early end to the day’s play

The players can’t do anything about bad light. [The umpires] wanted to stay consistent with the decision because the weather will stay the same. [The decision is] fair for both the teams.

On the strategy going into Day 2

We will try to get them out as early as possible and try to bat as long as possible. That is the strategy.

On the wicket

It is damp and slow, the ball is not coming on to the bat. Hopefully the wicket will get better as the match progresses. Maybe on the third and fourth day the wicket will get drier and then the ball will come on to the wicket.

On the decision to rest VVS Laxman

We checked with Laxman in the morning and he said his back was stiff and sore. We didn’t want to take a chance because if something goes wrong then we can’t have a fielder for him. So it was a good decision not to play him.

On Marcus North’s inning

I think he is batting well and looked confident at the crease. But tomorrow morning we’ll put more pressure on him and get him out as early as possible.