Indian captain Sourav Ganguly put his weight behind the bowlers after losing the third cricket Test against Australia, saying the fifth day wicket at the Melbourne Cricket Ground still was good to bat.

"It was still a batsman friendly wicket. The series is balanced and we are looking forward to Sydney (Test)," Ganguly said after India crashed to a nine-wicket defeat.

Australia's retiring captain Steve Waugh was all smiles after the series leveling win that kept alive his team's hopes of winning the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.

Waugh, who will retire at the end of this Test series, said it was a 'great day' for him.

"We are happy to come back into the series... today is a great occasion," said Waugh who made his Test debut at the same venue against the same opposition in 1985.

"Now we can look forward to the fight in Sydney," said the 38-year old Waugh who is keen to finish his Test career on his home ground on a winning note.

The veteran of 167 Tests credited fast bowler Brad Williams with setting up his team's victory. "He bowled exceptionally well," Waugh said of Williams who claimed 4-53 in India's second innings.

Man of the match Ricky Ponting, who registered his second successive double hundred in the first innings, also said the two paced drop-in wicket was good for batting.

"It is a batsman's wicket. The start was crucial today, and once we saw the first hour, the match was won," he said.