Durban: Indian bowling coach Joe Dawes says its was disappointing not be able to bowl out South African batsmen in Johannesburg where the wicket was helping bowlers.
In the drawn first Test at Johannesburg, Indian bowlers couldn't bowl out the hosts on a wicket that aided them, despite defending a mammoth 458-run target for which Indian bowlers drawn flak but bowling coach Joe Dawes backed his wards, saying "sometimes they get unwarranted criticism".
"Yes, it was a disappointing that we couldn't bowl them out on a pitch that was doing something. However, it was a matter of just one partnership that saved the match for them. It happens, that's cricket for you," Dawes said after the opening day's play of the second Test today.
"But sometimes the Indian bowlers get unwarranted criticism. So far we are yet to lose a Test this year, and we have won every ODI series except the one here in South Africa.
They bowled well in the Champions Trophy and sometimes not so well in the sub-continent. At such times, criticism is merited. However, it gets over the top at most times," he added, defending his players.
India were in total control of the series-deciding second cricket Test against South Africa before bad light brought a premature end to the opening day's play and Dawes expectedly couldn't hide his disappointment.
The umpires took the two batsmen, Murali Vijay and Cheteshwar Pujara, along with the Proteas off, almost 90 minutes before the scheduled close of play.
