We're not looking to chasing in the second innings: Gilchrist

Australian vice-captain Adam Gilchrist said in Mumbai on Wednesday that the team was not looking to chase a target in the second innings. He added the first priority was to get as many early wickets as possible and bowl out India in the deficit.

Speaking to reporters at the post match conference at the Wankhede stadium, Gilchrist revealed the immediate objective of the Australians.

The 29-year-old left-hander scored a century batting at number seven and bailed out his team with a 197-run partnership with opener Matthew Hayden. He added that his first target was to survive on the wicket and try to build a partnership, adding that both the batsmen discussed and decided to play positively and went after the spinners. He was happy that the plan worked and that Australia took the crucial lead.

Gilchrist said that the pitch was hard and it was difficult for a new batsman to come in and play his strokes immediately. He added that after trying to settle down at the wicket it became suitable to play some strokes. While admitting that Australia were 99 for five at one stage, he said it was in no way a collapse. He was of the view that even though quick wickets fell they were always confident of taking the first innings lead.

Opener Matthew Hayden said that he was glad to have scored a Test century in India. He added that on the tour to the West Indies, he had a few good innings but could not capitalise on them and convert them into big innings. He said that the experience of playing county cricket in England helped him in playing spin and he also learned to be patient in his innings.

Hayden used the sweep shot to optimum effect in his innings, he said "The sweep shot was a natural part of his game and this innings was in no way different." Symbolising the confidence of the Australian side Hayden said that had Tendulkar come in for a longer period before close of play, they would have stood a good chance of getting him tonight.

Both the left-handers agreed that the wicket was turning a lot and they were both surprised to see this amount of turn on the second day. They also agreed that the best Indian bowler was Harbhajan Singh. The off-spinner was a threat throughout the day, they felt.

Gilchrist was of the view that the Australians had a world class bowling attack and they were aware that the Indian batsmen were quality players. He added that the Indians were aware that the pressure would be on the home team to try and make the Australians bat a second time.

The stumper noted predictably that the wicket was turning and any bowler could extract good pace, bounce and spin from this wicket. He opined that the first session on Thursday would be the deciding session and Tendulkar was the key to it. "After all," he concluded optimistically, "It only takes one ball to end a partnership."