Ramesh breaks thumb, out of series

Ramesh breaks thumb, out of series
Pradeep Magazine

MELBOURNE, DECEMBER 30: While A beaming Steve Waugh was being asked whether this was the best Australian team he has seen, Indian captain Sachin Tendulkar had no excuses to offer for defeat.

``I am not giving any excuses. We played badly,'' was his response after India were beaten at Melbourne today.

When asked for the difference between the Australian side that toured India and the present one, Tendulkar said: ``I don't think there is much difference except that McGrath was not there. We are comfortable on our wickets and they are comfortable on theirs. We won at home, they are winning at home.''

Opener Sadagopan Ramesh, who retried hurt earlier in the innings, was diagnosed with a broken thumb and will take no further part in the series. On being asked whether India has sought a replacement for him befor the third and final Test starting in Sydney on January 2, Tendulkar asked:``Where is the time for a replacement to reach here<\!q>?''

Before playing at home, you were in Sri Lanka and lost the series there, Waugh was asked. Do you think winning here has more to do with home advantage<\!q>?

He replied:``We were just into the season when we went to Lanka, even then we came close to winning a Test there. It was in Zimbabwe we started picking up and have not looked back after that.''