Clarke defends Watson over Ponting’s run out on third day of Bridgetown Test

Bridgetown, Apr 10(ANI): Australian captain Michael Clarke has defended all-rounder Shane Watson after he featured in one of the third day's defining plays, which saw Ricky Ponting run out for four, as Australia is trailing the West Indies by 201 runs at the close of the third day’s play in the first Test.

"It is a part of the game and it is unfortunate. You never mean to run anybody out. It was a big wicket, losing Ricky. It's no-one's fault, it's part of the game. What can you do? You've got to try, in any form of the game, not to have too many run-outs because it's hard enough for all the batters especially when you're chasing a total like that, the Sydney Morning Herald quoted Clarke, as saying.

"Everybody runs at different speeds and sees the game in a different light, I guess. So I don't think so,” he added.

Watson has been involved in eight run outs during his 33 Tests.

Australia enter day four precariously placed and repeat of the lower-order collapse would hand the hosts a substantial lead and put Australia on the backfoot with a wicket starting to offer variable bounce.

"It generally is the case in the Caribbean that the longer the game goes the more up and down pitches get around here," Clarke said.

He, however, expressed hope that Australia can win the game if it bowled better in the second innings as compared to first one.

"I think we can [still win]. I think we're going to have to bowl better than what we did in the first innings and we're going to have to try to make as many runs as we can in this first innings to see how close we are to them. I certainly think we can still win the Test match from here,” he added. (ANI)