I expected call up for ODIs, not Tests: Vijay

Vijay said he had not expected a call-up to the Indian Test team before the one-dayers against England.

Debutant Murali Vijay, who replaced the in-form Gautam Gambhir who is serving one-Test ban for breaching ICC code of conduct, on Friday said he had not expected a call-up to the Indian Test team before the one-dayers against England.

8220;I have been playing in the Challenger Series. I have been doing well and expected a call-up for the ODIs, but not in Tests. It was a big honour for me to play in a Test,8221; he said after the second day8217;s play in the fourth and final Test against Australia.

The 24-year-old Chennai-based Vijay made a compact-looking 33 and also got involved in a near-century stand with Virender Sehwag on the opening day on Thursday.

8220;It8217;s a great feeling playing with Sehwag. He8217;s a great player and made me very comfortable when we batted together and put on 98 runs at a fast clip. He took the pressure away. I enjoyed batting with him,8221; he said.

Vijay said the main difference between the bowlers he was used to face in domestic cricket and in the highest form of the game here was in the speed.

8220;The bowlers here have a little bit more pace,8221; he said after facing one of the world8217;s fastest bowlers Brett Lee, left-arm bowler Mitchell Johnson and Shane Watson.

Vijay expected the wicket to slow down as the match progressed.

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8220;The wicket is on the slower side now and will become slower,8221; he said.

About his direct hit at the non-striker8217;s end to send back dangerous Australian opener Matthew Hayden when the visitors replied to India8217;s 441, the Tamil Nadu player said he saw the batsman take a slow start and attacked the ball as it came to him.

8220;I saw he was slow to start off and had the opportunity to attack the ball which came my way,8221; he said about his pick-up and throwing down of the stumps from mid-on that caught Hayden just short of the crease when the score was 32.