Melbourne, Nov 17 : Aussie all-rounder Shane Watson has said that he loved bowling to Indian opener Gautam Gambhir because it were a big dog-fight to get him out, but added that the latter was no “Mr Perfect”. The duo was involved in a spat in the third Test at Kotla, where the opener elbowed Watson after the latter was seen passing some comments at him.

“He’s obviously not Mr Perfect,” said Watson but added: “... he’s a great competitor; he batted extremely well against us. I actually love playing against him because you know it’s going to be a big dog-fight to get him out. People don’t want to see robots that don’t show any emotion. They want to see people having a go.”

Watson said this while replying to a question on Gambhir’s recent comment that he was pushed into crossing the line by persistent Aussie sledging during the third Test in Delhi.

Later, Gambhir was banned for a Test for his actions, while Watson was fined 10 per cent of his match fee for provoking Gambhir.

Watson said that the world champions were not entirely at fault for the sluggish over-rate as Indian batsmen sometimes took too long a time to face up. “Maybe making you wait to bowl is a way to maybe get under your skin. As a bowler I was ready to go quite a few times and they took time to face up,” The Sunday Telegraph quoted Watson as saying.

Poor over-rate during the Nagour Test had prompted Aussie skipper Ricky Ponting to employ part-time bowlers at a crucial juncture of the deciding the match, which the tourists lost. Critics argue that Ponting let go a chance to draw the series with that decision but Watson says he stands by his captain’s call.

“Of course I wanted the ball because there was an opportunity, that hour was crucial. But on the flip side, I back Ricky 100 per cent in every decision he makes,” Watson asserted. (ANI)