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Australia Under Pressure But We Have a Big Chance in Second Test, Claims Zaheer Khan

BANGALORE - Zaheer Khan has been the spearhead of the Indian attack for quite some time now. But the man of the match award he received after the first Test between India and Australia ended in a draw should be a special one considering the fact that he got it for his allround performance.

Zaheer Khan saved India from the blushes after coming up with a sparkling unbeaten half century and sharing a crucial 80-run partnership with Harbhajan Singh. He is high on confidence and is looking forward for the second Test match starting in Mohali on October 17.

Usually a happy man, he was not impressed with Ponting’s comments on India not playing positively and not going for a win in the second innings. “They talk about maintaining a run rate of four per over. They know they are on the backfoot. They couldn’t get me and Bhajji out; so what are they talking about? We have a big chance and they are under big pressure. So we are looking at the second game now.”

The left-arm paceman said: “On this fifth day pitch the spinners couldn’t do us any harm. So that tells us what their spin attack is all about.

“Even their pacers for that matter on a fifth day, on wicket like this, did not take wickets. So the pressure is on them to take wickets.”

On the spat between him and Haddin, Zaheer said: “We all know Aussies do all these things. We settled the matter then and there on the field and we do not want to take it any further.”

Zaheer, who picked up opener Matthew Hayden twice in the match, said: “He is a good player and the Australians rely a lot on him. Removing him early has always been one of our priorities. He is the one who plays spin well and getting him out early is our focus.”