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Nielsen praises Aussie quality
DURBAN: Australian coach Tim Nielsen says the Test series success over South Africa is a measure of the quality of the Australian team both on and off the field.
With the No.1 Test ranking on the line and with South Africa having won the recent series in Australia 2-1, the pressure was on an inexperienced Australian team to wrest the momentum back in this series.
They have done that superbly, winning both Tests comprehensively and delighting the coach, who paid tribute to the players and the back-room staff.
"It's obviously a tremendous feeling, we are feeling very happy with ourselves and the way we went about playing the game over the past couple of weeks," Nielsen told CricketAustraliaTV.com.
"It's been a real success for all of us as a team, both the players who have played so well and the support staff who have planned so well to assist them play at their utmost which is really pleasing to us all, after not having the success would have liked against South African in Australia earlier this year," he said.
This series will most likely be regarded as a significant turning point for the Australian team, which rolled the dice by selecting three debutants in the first Test in Johannesburg. The rewards have been spectacular with Marcus North and Phillip Hughes shining with the bat and Ben Hilfenhaus doing more than his bit with the ball.
"It's great to see so many young players coming into Test cricket and having the courage and the confidence to stand up and perform so well." Nielsen said.
Nielsen admitted Australia also took a risk when Ricky Ponting decided to bat in the first Test at the New Wanderers on a pitch that offered plenty of assistance for the bowlers.
He said that courageous decision set the standard for the rest of the series.
"I suppose the highlights for me have been winning the toss in Joburg and having the courage to bat on what was a bit of a green top, but Michael Clarke and Ricky Ponting were outstanding that afternoon, a partnership of 113 really took the momentum away from South Africa," he said.
Nielsen said that the decision to bat first in the second Test was a much easier one, and reaped fantastic rewards when Hughes was able to notch his first Test century.
"We decided to bat, we thought it would be hard work batting last on that wicket," he said.
"Phillip Hughes played so well for 100s in both innings of the Test match, the youngest player ever to do that. Ricky Pointing supported him very well, with a partnership of 180-odd and took the game away from South Africa."
(c) cricket.com.au |
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Cric Contest Ratings |
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 Tests
ODIs
T-20
Combined |
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First ever Premier Ratings. Who leads whom? A unique formula devised by the criccontest team.  |
| Mohandas Menon |
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