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Under-fire Australian opener Ed Cowan says his critics should pay more attention to conditions in the Test series in the Caribbean than just pure numbers.
Australian opener Ed Cowan began his first Anzac Day as a Test player battling critics who felt he wasn't up to cricket at the highest level.
By the end of the day the Tasmanian had fired plenty of shots back at those same knockers after grinding out a hard-earned 55 with a bruised wrist on a tricky Dominica wicket.
The 29-year-old, though disappointed he wasn't able to convert a half-century into a maiden Test ton for the third time in his seven-game career for Australia, said those looking purely at his numbers were not taking into account the full picture.
Cowan averages 29.83 from his seven Tests, a number he knows he needs to improve, but he says the stats don't relay how tough it's been during three matches in the Caribbean.
"If you're in the Australian cricket team and you're not consistently getting big scores, of course you are going to be under pressure," Cowan said.
"You don't need to be a genius to work that out.
"The only disappointing aspect is I think you guys here on the ground would appreciate how hard batting has been through the series.
But people, because of the time zone, probably haven't watched a lot of cricket but they click on a link to see the score in the morning and they go 28, oh, Ponting 30, these guys are struggling.
"Well, it's bloody hard work and you need to see the ball spitting and turning the way it is to appreciate that.
"If you're just judging people's form by looking at the scorecard, then you're not doing the game full justice."
At stumps on day three, Australia were 6-200 in their second innings, holding a commanding 310-run lead overall on a deteriorating wicket in Roseau.
Before play began on Wednesday, Cowan delivered an emotional address to the Australian team on the field during a quick Anzac Day ceremony, telling the tale of former Wallaby Stan Bisset's service in Kokoda during World War II.
After that it was back to his day job, combining with another player under pressure to perform in Ricky Ponting in an 87-run stand.
In the process both players passed 50 for the first time in the series and Cowan said the fact all of Australia's top seven had got past that milestone showed how well individuals were contributing to the overall cause.
"It means we're contributing," he said.
"As I just alluded to, 50 on a wicket like that can be as good as a hundred.
"Sure the runs don't show on the scorebook ... the contributions from guys, they haven't been huge admittedly which provides a little bit of ammunition if you're looking for it.
"But at the same time it has provided scores that are putting pressure on them to respond."
