Australian captain Tim Paine was all praise for his team's bowling attack after the hosts' amazing fightback and eight-wicket win in the first Test against India in Adelaide.
The Australians had conceded a crucial 53-run lead at the halfway mark after responding to India's 244 with just 191 of their own. But Josh Hazlewood (5/8) and Pat Cummins (4/21) pulled the game back remarkably for the hosts on Day 3.
The pace duo dismissed the tourists for their lowest-ever score in Test cricket, taking 9 wickets between them to get the entire Indian batting unit out for just 36 in 21.2 overs.
Openers Matthew Wade (33) and Joe Burns (51*) then ensured the hosts reached the 90-run target quite comfortably.
"Didn't expect it to come (end) that quick. Was expecting a real dogfight," Paine said at the post-match presentation ceremony, as quoted by Cricbuzz.
The skipper had earlier on kept his team in the game with a superb innings of 73 not out. He, along with the lower-order batsmen, eat significantly into what would otherwise have been a more threatening Indian lead.
"To hang in, give our bowlers a chance, and then turn up and start the day the way we did. Full credit to our bowling attack again. Nice to get off to a good start," he said.
Opener Burns finally looked in some rhythm with his batting as he steered his team through with a fine half-century, a nice positive for the Australians going into the next Test at MCG starting December 26.
"Burns is a really important part of our team. All cricketers know how hard it is to come out of a rut like that," said Paine, as the right-hand batsman vindicated the belief shown in him by the team management.
1-0 ahead in the four-Test series now, Paine, however, knows the hosts are expected to perform better with the bat than they did in Adelaide.
"Said in the media both these attacks have the ability to take quick wickets. Chuffed with the way we bowled in this Test. Still a bit of work to do with our batting," he signed off.
