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Rohit can fill into big shoes of Tendulkar: Bailey
Impressed with his breathtaking display of batting, Australia skipper George Bailey says Rohit Sharma is certainly the one who is in the mix for the spot that will open up after Sachin Tendulkar's retirement from international cricket later this month.
Rohit crack a match-winning double century as India posted a 57-run victory in the series-deciding final ODI against Australia to clinch the rubber 3-2 in Bangalore.
"It was an extraordinary innings. He has had a wonderful series. He is obviously flourishing at the top of the order. He would certainly be one who is in the mix for that spot that will open up after the great man (Sachin Tendulkar) departs in a couple of Tests," he told reporters.
'I thought Rohit batted beautifully'
Bailey also lauded Rohit for pacing up his innings wonderfully after starting on a slow note.
"It was extraordinary. I think the record was smashed for most sixes in a game. I thought Rohit batted beautifully. He summed it up. He wasn't actually that quick early on. I looked at it when he brought his 100 up and he was probably only run a ball. He just got a bit busier after that," he said.
Rohit had blasted his way into the record books with a breathtaking 209 that included a record 16 sixes. He also became only third batsman in the history of ODI cricket after Virender Sehwag (219) and Sachin Tendulkar (200 no) to reach the coveted double ton. This was also the highest individual ODI score by any batsman against Australia in ODIs.
'It is just a matter of striking the balance'
Asked whether 400-run chase with the new rules of five fielders inside the circle and two new balls good for the game, Bailey said it would be a different ball game in livelier conditions in Australia and South Africa.
"You won't get wickets like this in Australia and South Africa. It does depend a little bit on conditions and then when you get those conditions in Australia, may be the two new balls play a part and the team might be 3-30, and you have got to find a way to get to 250. It is different everywhere. It is just a matter of striking the balance. I don't mind the odd games like this," he explained.
"The challenge is how do you talk to your bowlers? How do you work out who has bowled well? How do you work out who has done their job? Until we get more feedback on how many of these scores get chased down and how many times teams get these scores, it is going to be hard to actually work out what is par," Bailey said.
Missed Mitchell Johnson
Bailey admitted that the Aussies certainly missed the services of pacer Mitchell Johnson.
He indicated that Australia lost the match because their top order batsmen failed to score and get partnerships goings.
"You need your top-order to score a few to get you on track early. And if you can get partnerships...what we have seen on these grounds, if you have got wickets in hand you can score anything," he said.
Praising James Faulkner, Bailey said the Tasmanian has got a wonderful future ahead and 'teams will fear him because of the energy and competitiveness he brings into the game'.
"Teams will certainly fear him. It is just that energy he brings is wonderful. The competitiveness he brings is something you love playing with. He has got a pretty bright future," he said.
'Faulkner loves responsibility'
Talking about Faulkner's bowling, the stand-in-skipper said, "He bowls in powerplays, at the start and the death. He loves that responsibility. I think we have just seen him come into his own with a bit of confidence."
On India opener Shikhar Dhawan getting engaged in a war-of-words with Shane Watson, Bailey said, "Yeah he is pretty animated isn't he? He is obviously passionate about how he goes about it. I think there is a bit of that on both sides. There are guys who are very passionate. There is a lot riding on the line. But there is a fine line there I guess.
"Sometimes the art of winning is as hard to learn as the art of losing."
Asked whether Watson would miss Ashes series due to injury, Bailey said, "The team won't know anything until Watson gets home and gets a proper scan looked at."