All hundreds are special: Jaffer

KOLKATA: Pakistan's depleted bowling attack notwithstanding, India's opening batsman Wasim Jaffer feels his unbeaten 192 on the first day of the second cricket Test here was a good preparation for the team's tour of Australia later this year.
   
"I'm happy with the knock. I hadn't scored 192 in a day before. That way this is special," Jaffer told after the opening day's play at the Eden Gardens.
   
"Down Under conditions are different. And the bowling will also be different. But it (the knock) will help me prepare for the Ausssie tour," he added.
   
Pakistan pace spearhead Shoaib Akhtar and Mohammad Sami have not fully recovered from fever and Jaffer admitted that it made a huge difference to the visiting side.
   
"Unfit Akhtar made the difference... He did not bowl enough. His absence from the bowling line up (for the larger part of the day) hampered the Pakistan attack... His absence hurt them," he said.
   
The 29-year-old Mumbai batsman said, however, refused to compare his knock with the 212  his only Test double century to date  he notched up against the West Indies in September last year.
   
"All hundreds are special. I have got only a few hundreds," said the cricketer, who made his debut for India opposite South Africa in Mumbai seven and a half years back.
   
Asked if he was aiming at crossing the Indian highest of 309 scored by Virender Sehwag in Multan, Jaffer said "let me get the first run tomorrow. And then I will think."

Jaffer said India would look to post a big total to enforce follow on on Pakistan.
   
"India are now on a strong wicket and the team strategy would be to bat well tomorrow and enforce the follow-on."
   
Jaffer said the wicket was on the slower side, and he concentrated on playing cricketing shots, and desisted from being too aggressive.
   
"I don't remember having batted so fluenty before," he said but admitted that he was conscious about his tendency to get out after having made good starts.
   
"I was conscious about it. I couldn't convert even in a few Ranji matches recently. That was in my mind. I got conscious when I was in my 50s and 60s."
   
On being in and out of the Indian team in the past, the opening batsman said "I have gone through a lot of lean phases... But I am used to scoring big and coming back into the side.
   
"It hurts you, but it also teaches you a lot on how to come back," he added.
   
Asked how he benefited from the advices given by Rahul Dravid and Sachin Tendulkar during his partnerships with them, Jaffer said "partnerhips are like they are. It is about mutual understanding. When I do anything wrong he (the other partner) talks to me, and vice versa".
   
On whether he would be able to sleep tonight with the double hundred in sight, Jaffer said in a lighter vein "I am always a good sleeper".