Insults traded over tactics

On a day overshadowed by the sudden retirement of Adam Gilchrist, tensions between Australia and India surfaced again on the third day of the fourth and final Test here Saturday.
Indian batsman Virender Sehwag claiming the home side were running scared and had adopted a safety first attitude while Australian Matthew Hayden, who made his 30th Test century, fired back by saying the Indians deliberately bowled negatively to restrict scoring.
But Hayden said the tactic suited Australia perfectly, as they lead the series 2-1 and are content to settle for a draw.
"I think it is purely a response to the way India decided to bowl," Hayden said of the slow scoring.
"They have very wide tactics and that was indicated by the fact they didn't want to take the new ball, they just wanted to stop us scoring, which is perfect for us really because all we wanted to do was bat for time in the game," he said.
"The way they bowled today (Saturday) was perfect for us not to lose the game, Australia is 2-1 up in the series and we definitely want that to stay."
Sehwag said Australia refused to play attacking shots because they were afraid of defeat.
"I think it's been a great day for India, the bowlers did a great job on a flat track," he said.
"I think they're not going to win so they are scared and playing very defensive," Sehwag said.
"They only scored 260 in a day, this is not like Australia.
"Last time we came here they scored 400 in a day, I think they're scared about defeat."
Press conferences later showed the ill feeling between the sides generated by the contentious second Test in Sydney still hadn't been fully resolved.
Spinner Harbhajan Singh, a key player in the Sydney drama, exchanged words with Ponting late in the day, after the pair collided as the Indian tried to stop a ball off his own bowling.
Harbhajan, recalled to renew his duel with Ponting, struggled to make an impact and failed to take a wicket in 28 overs, conceding 70 runs.