Steve Waugh feels the ghost of the acrimonious Sydney Test was still in the minds of the hosts as their appealing was not that convincing.
PERTH: It might be a peaceful opening day of third Test between India and Australia, but former Australian skipper Steve Waugh feels the ghost of the acrimonious Sydney Test was still in the minds of the hosts as their appealing was not that convincing.
Waugh cited the incident when Adam Gilchrist took a catch on his left that came off the arm guard off Wasim Jaffer but looked in dilemma whether to go for a loud appeal
"They were appealing with great gusto and then suddenly they weren't. In fact they were not quite sure what to do or how to appeal, an obvious postscript to the scrutiny of the side's behaviour in the Sydney Test," Waugh wrote in his column in the 'Courier Mail'.
"Gilly had an anguished look that probably came from the fact that from behind the wicket there is no way he would have known whether the ball had hit bat or arm guard yet he was quite entitled to ask the question.
"You could see the concern on Gilly's face as the episode was played out," the former skipper wrote.
The former Aussie skipper also felt that Indian offie Harbhajan Singh could have done well at WACA track, considered fastest pitch on the planet.
"Spinners can profit here but ones who rely on bounce, such as Harbhajan Singh, are normally a better bet than your skidding types such as Brad Hogg.
"India's selectors obviously disagree because they axed from their team the man I felt might have bowled well in perth Harbhajan," he said.
The Aussie pace battery may not have set the filed on fire by their performance but Waugh defended selection of four pacemen in the team on WACA strip.
"Choosing four quicks in a Test XI may be an unconventional move but it was undoubtedly the right one for the occasion.
"It may have been 16 years since Australia picked four quicks in a home Test but Perth's pace and bounce made it the right move."
Waugh also looked disappointed with the Indian team management's decision to give another chance to struggling opener Wasim Jaffer.
"I can not see how India can keep selecting opener Wasim Jaffer if he fails in the second innings.
"His series returns (38 runs at 7.6) are modest and his half-hearted offside waft for an edge behind off outstanding paceman Brett Lee yesterday was not the sort of shot you want to see from an opener.
"Good teams rely on opening batsmen having a hard-edged game, and this seems well beyond the reach of Jaffer in his current form," he said.
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