Chennai: Debutant Moises Henriques said that Australia skipper Michael Clarke’s presence in the middle had a calming influence on him, as he signalled his arrival on the big stage with a crucial half-century on the opening day of the first Test against India here on Friday.
Henriques, who made 68 off 132 balls, was involved in a 151-run stand for the sixth wicket, which lifted Australia from 153 for five to 316 for seven by the end of day’s play.
“The way Michael plays spin is different. He makes it easy down the wicket. I do not try and play as Michael does against spin. Playing with him helped me to be not nervous and I played calmly,” Henriques told reporters.
It was a hard grind for the 26-year-old all-rounder, especially with six-wicket man Ravichandran Ashwin getting the ball to turn and bounce.
“I think Ashwin gets motivated to spin all the balls where he gets more bounce. It is quite hard to get out smothering his deliveries. He does not bowl many bad balls either.
“He is a disciplined bowler. He changed his pace up well and he hits same length all the time,” Henriques said.
He felt that the pitch’s loose soil could play some “tricks” on the fourth and fifth day.
“General wear and tear of energy obviously saps you out in the sun. I do not think there was sort of wearing any less or anything like that but the foot marks in the loose ground looked like a [day three] wicket.
“Obviously the loose soil out there is going to play some tricks on the fourth and fifth days.” (PTI)
