Tried to minimise bad balls, scoring opportunities: Pacer Yadav

Pune, Feb 23 (IANS) Indian pacer Umesh Yadav, who claimed four wickets on the opening day of the first cricket Test against Australia here, revealed that his plan was to bowl the tight line and minimise scoring opportunities for the batsmen.

Yadav scripted Australia's downfall with figures of 4/32, while the spin trio of Ravichandran Ashwin (2/59), Ravindra Jadeja (2/74) and Jayant Yadav (1/58) shared five wickets between themselves as the visitors lost five wickets for just 56 runs in the third session after pacer Mitchell Starc's unbeaten half century at the end lifted Australia to 256/9 at stumps.

"I was trying to bowl very tight lines on this wicket and hoped that the batsmen would make mistakes. I was trying to minimise the bad balls and the scoring opportunities," Yadav said after the match.

"I knew if they go for their shots they would play the false stroke and I would be helped by the reverse to get wickets," he added.

Yadav also informed that he was working on his line and length with coach Anil Kumble and Sanjay Bangar in practice sessions.

"I was practising with Anil (Kumble) and Sanjay (Bangar) about what my line and length should be in the practice sessions. The hard work that I have done in the last six months has been paying off now. That is very important on such wickets," Yadav said.

The 29-year-old pacer separated the Australian openers Matt Renshaw and David Warner, who forged an 82-run partnership for the first wicket.

Commenting on Warner's wicket, Yadav said: "My spell started late and I knew that the ball was moving around quite a bit. I tried to get it much fuller to him and prevent him from freeing his arms. That is exactly what I wanted."

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