Sydney, Jan 4: Australia captain Michael Clarke (251*), and former captain Ricky Ponting (134), bludgeoned the Indian bowling attack to take the hosts to a 291-run lead against India on Day 2 of the ongoing Test at SCG.

Excerpts from Indian offspinner Ravichandran Ashwin’s press conference after the end of day’s play:

On India’s position at the end of Day 2

It's going to be a catch-up game from now on. We will have to dig deep and bat long. One or two persons will have to stand up and try to turn things around from now on. But if you need to turn it around, you need players to stand up and be counted. It has to come from within. It's all fine when you sit together and give all those speeches. Those speeches are very good to watch on TV. It has to come from within. You have to deliver out there. It's happened before [saving games from hopeless positions].

On the defensive field setting

What else do you do with 191 in the pocket? You'll have to save every run possible. Supposing you get two or three wickets later on, and someone is having a good spell, we have those runs to play with later. That has got to be the only idea. It's common sense, nothing else.

On having conceded over 100 runs

As a spinner, what is there on offer from that wicket? Nothing! It's not like I expect anything of a wicket in Australia on the second day. Not that I expect anything even back in India. It's the second day; you are not going to get much. We got bowled out inside the first day.

On the pacers

It's always going to be a catch-up game and not just for the bowlers. As I said, you can't fault the efforts of the bowlers. They ran in hard. Ishant [Sharma] was clocking 140 [kmph] in the final spell. That's all you can expect from the bowlers as of now.

On his bowling

I haven't landed anything short, I haven't delivered anything full. I haven't really bowled many bad balls. I have been bowling really well but the wicket column has to really reflect [my efforts]. I'm not someone who is going to read into that. There will be a spell where I can turn it around. Australia were up by 100 runs when I came in to bowl. I just need time to settle in. I need to know which side the breeze is moving. It's drifting both ways in Australia.

On his role in the side

Basically as a spinner I am expected to tie one end up for the fast bowlers to work with. I'm sorry but you have got to be a fool if you try to spin the ball from outside off and hit the top of leg every time you come into the attack. You have to have common sense and save up some runs for the fast bowlers.

On the plan from here on

The Australians haven't given me anything to work with yet [...]. This is one Test match where I could have bowled fourth at the SCG and that's about it. I am someone who is going to stay positive.

If we can bat really well in the third innings and put something on the board on the final day, we will be good enough to work around and fight with that. Let's see.

On the wicket

Very frankly, the wicket has flattened out today and there was nothing on offer. People were going really hard today and bending their backs. Every team can score at three and four runs an over. It's not just them. India has managed to smash 450 runs against many other good attacks.

On the media’s adverse reaction

We lost 4-0 on an overseas tour before this. People are saying, 'It's going to be either a 4-0 or a 2-0' [scoreline]. I don't know how it works with the [media], but for us to just hear this repetitively is the biggest [impediment to a successful performance].

On Australia captain Michael Clarke and Ricky Ponting

They batted pretty well last evening itself, that little phase towards the end of play when we bowled 10 overs for I don't know how many runs exactly. They batted really positively which meant that today's first 15 minutes were crucial. They batted positively and took the game away from us.