Bengaluru, Oct 9: Australian opener Shane Watson smashed a half-century on the opening day of the second Test while Australia managed to score 285-5 at the close of play. Watson said that Marcus North will be the key man for the visitors as they try to take the upper hand in the Bengaluru Test and spoke about skipper Ponting being disappointed about falling to a part-timer after playing well.

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On Marcus North’s innings and Ricky Ponting’s wicket

Marcus [North] is looking very good. He started his innings beautifully. He hit the majority of [deliveries] with the middle of the bat. It is always a delight to watch Marcus in flow. He is going to be the key man for us to post a good total out there. It is a really nice batting wicket and we have to score as many runs as possible in the first innings. Ricky [Ponting] also batted beautifully out there today and it is obviously disappointing that he did not get a big one.

On the Australian batsmen not being able to convert starts

No doubt it was disappointing that no one got a hundred today because it is a good wicket. It is one of the things that happen on certain days. You never mean to get out and we are hoping that we will get some more partnerships going tomorrow morning. With these conditions, we should get a good total in the first innings like we did in Mohali.

On whether Ricky Ponting was annoyed after being adjudged LBW to Suresh Raina

No doubt [it is disappointing], especially when you are batting so beautifully. He will be frustrated not to get a big score like the ones he is used to. But it is still a very important innings for him. [It was crucial] to set up good partnerships with Marcus and [Michael] Hussey.

On the conditions

The wicket is nice. Usually in India there are footmarks and it is dusty and it turns from early on. Out there in these conditions there is more moisture as well that will help conventional swing. The wicket is playing very true and is a really nice batting one - there has been a bit of carry for the quicks as well.

On his own form

I have played some important games now and it feels more comfortable out there on different grounds and understanding the different conditions. A little bit of time off also helped to refresh the mind. And I have set my goals for the next eight to ten months that are coming up.

On the advantage of opening the innings

We got the best of the conditions particularly against the quick bowlers even though [India] have high quality bowlers. Definitely it is going to turn and it is better to get your feet in to understand the conditions rather than going directly into a turning track with fielders around and the ball reversing. If you open the innings, the ball starts reversing halfway through your innings. Opening here is different from some of the grounds in Australia where there is more swing and seam movement. It is good that we have come over to India during the best time.

On the Australian dressing room being happy not to see VVS Laxman around

I suppose yes. He batted very well in the last Test. But there are enough talented guys in the Indian ranks with youngsters coming through. Some of them we have watched very closely in the IPL. Obviously, somebody who is replacing VVS or anybody else is someone who is highly talented.

On the key to bowling well on the Bengaluru wicket

There is going to be a fair bit of swing out there. It is there in [Ben] Hilfenhaus’ hands and there is Peter George out there - it looks like the ball will remain fairly new throughout the day. We have to make use of those conditions. We are at our best when the ball is swinging and carrying through because the wicket is good and the margin of error is very small. We have to be absolutely spot-on with the ball.