Cricket: Easy win drives Oz juggernaut to series target

MUMBAI - Australia have taken a huge psychological advantage over the Indian cricketers as they chase their goal of winning a series in India for the first time in three decades, says captain Steve Waugh.

Inside three days, Australia beat India by 10 wickets in the first test and did so after telling the Indians exactly how it was going to turn out.

In the pre-match hype, Waugh said he would bowl first if he won the toss and would try to blast India out of the match - and the series - in the first session.

It all came to fruition and Waugh now believes the Indians will struggle to pick themselves up for the second test starting in Calcutta on March 11.

"Psychologically, this was a significant win," Waugh said.

"You only had to look at the Indians' body language when they went out there for seven overs at the end - they were pretty down.

"In that respect, I think we've made some inroads for the next test match."

After talking up their own chances, the Indians' morale won't be helped by supporters booing skipper Sourav Ganguly at the presentation, nor by the media slating his team from the time the game began.

Waugh acknowledged that Australia benefited from a "lucky" dismissal of Sachin Tendulkar on 65, which sparked a major batting collapse as India lost eight for 65 to be all out for 219 - a lead of 46, which Australia knocked off in exactly seven overs.

Tendulkar went after he hit a pull shot onto Justin Langer's shoulder at short leg. The ball ballooned to square leg to be caught by Ricky Ponting, who was flying parallel to the ground having sprinted from midwicket.

"That was a major turning point," Waugh said. "But it shows that if you hang in there long enough things will turn around. It was a pretty lucky catch but at the same time Ricky Ponting has still got to take that catch and make the most of that opportunity."

Waugh said that sort of chance fell Australia's way because of the commitment shown in the field.

"It was pretty hard out there - there was a lot of noise when the Indians were batting - but we kept our cool in tough situations."

The other major point for the Australians was the partnership between Adam Gilchrist (122) and Matthew Hayden (119) for the sixth wicket.

Waugh paid them the highest possible compliment for their 197 runs off 195 balls.

"The way Gilchrist and Hayden played yesterday, there were glimpses of how Sir Donald Bradman would have played for sure," he said. "They were two of the great test match hundreds."

Ganguly said poor batting had let his team down. But he and India's coach, John Wright, said they would work on a comeback in the three-test series.

"It's very difficult to come back after scoring just 176 in the first innings," Ganguly said. "We just didn't bat well in this test and that cost us dearly."

He said his side would have to work on a few areas to ensure they put up a better fight in Calcutta and Madras.

Wright, a former New Zealand skipper, said there was no need to panic.

"We will analyse this match, see if we need a different kind of bowling attack, work on all aspects of our game and take it from there."

Australia's victory increased to 16 their world-record run of consecutive test wins. They next play a three-day game against a Board XI in Delhi.

Australian opener Michael Slater was given a warning for arguing after having an appeal for a catch turned down on the final day of the test.

West Indian match referee Cammie Smith said Slater was cautioned for arguing with umpire Srinivas Venkatraghavan and Indian batsman Rahul Dravid.

Slater had claimed a catch he took diving forward at mid-wicket when Dravid pulled a ball from Damien Fleming while he was on 22.

"From Slater's point of view he thought he had caught the ball cleanly and was anxious because the batsman did not believe him," Waugh said.

"It certainly was not the right thing to do but you can understand his feelings. I am sure he would not do it again."

- AGENCIES