In-form Pujara has left Aussies clueless
'We've tried to bounce Pujara, we've tried wide of the stumps, we've tried at the stumps, Nathan Lyon's been over and around ... and he's been too good for us'
Australia captain Tim Paine was not looking for excuses despite a second miserable day in the field in the fourth Test on Friday but did say a wicket with a bit more life might help his bowlers deal with their Indian nemesis, Cheteshwar Pujara.
Batsman Pujara completed an innings of 193 on Friday as India scored 622 for seven declared to pretty much end Australia's hopes of the victory they need to save the series.
The 30-year-old rarely looked under any threat as he ground out his third century of the series on a track which offered virtually nothing for pace or spin to take took his tally to 521 runs over four Tests.
"It's one of those things we can't control, we just have to deal with it the best we can," Paine said of the wicket.
"What I do know is that the pitch here, and the pitch in Melbourne, didn't make us bowl and bat as poorly as badly as we have in this Test.
"We've just been outplayed and both teams have had similar conditions.
"I'd like to see a bit more bounce and a bit more pace but we've just got to play better on whatever wicket is served up wherever we play in the world."
Pujara only managed scores of 24 and four in the one Test that Australia won and Paine suggested that the drop-in wicket at the new Perth Stadium might have had something to do with it.
"In the form he's in at the moment, he's not missing too many," Paine said.
"When the wicket is like it is at the moment and you can't swing the ball, not many good players miss them. He's been really patient and disciplined around his off-stump.
"We've tried to bounce him, we've tried wide of the stumps, we've tried at the stumps, Nathan Lyon's been over and around ... and he's been too good for us.
"Having said that, I thought in Perth, when we got some bounce in the wicket, we saw where we can get him out. Caught behind the wicket. Twice."
Paine praised Indian batsmen who made the home team toil on field for the second game in a row.
"India made us bowl 170 overs in Melbourne, 160-odd again today. That takes its toll. We spoke about that right back in Adelaide, that's something we wanted to do to their attack. We haven't quite been able to do it and they've done it to ours.
"At the end of a long series, you can get some real rewards if you can make teams bowl lots and lots of overs. I think that's what you saw late today."
Paine insisted there was no difference of opinion between him and his bowlers, contrary to the claims of bowling coach David Saker.
It was a surprise mid-Test press conference by the Australian captain on day two when India declared for 622 for seven.
Paine said that they did get some plans wrong, but there was nothing as worrying as a disagreement.
"We always have discussion post game but in terms of being on a different page, no. I think we are pretty clear on what we're trying to do. Yesterday afternoon -- and to be fair probably the first hour in the morning then the first hour after lunch we got it slightly wrong," said Paine.
"It can sometimes look like that but we know what we're trying to do. Sometimes you don't quite execute and teams can get away from you and that's what happened," he said.
Paine said criticism is expected when the team is not doing well.
"When you're playing sport at the highest level and you don't perform as you should you're going to cop criticism. We all know that, we all expect that and we're all used to it.
"We know we've come up short with the ball the last two Test matches. We've copped criticism for it and we know we have to get better. We need to be honest about it before we can get better. We're not hiding from it but we'll come tomorrow and the next Test we play, and try and get better,” he added.
Paine admitted that the number of overs the Indian batsmen had forced them to bowl in Melbourne and Sydney had taken its toll on his attack and that paceman Mitchell Starc was struggling with confidence.
One thing that could not be doubted, though, was that the Australians were giving their all and that would continue when they resumed on 24 without loss on Saturday.
"The easiest thing to do is to throw in the towel but we won't be doing that," he said.
"We'll be turning up tomorrow and trying our guts out to get back into this game."
