Last Update: February 12, 2023, 07:20 IST
Australia are looking for their first Test series win in India since 2004. (AP Photo)
Australia will have to dig deep and rework their strategy after a disappointing show with the bat in Nagpur
The Aussies had two very productive outings in subcontinent conditions in 2022, ahead of their tour of India. First was a historic tour of Pakistan in March–April which saw them win the three match Test series 1–0.
And then in June, they drew the two-match Test series 1–1 in Sri Lanka. The Australian team would have taken a lot of confidence from their performances in both countries and perhaps the experience of those tours could come in handy when faced with the challenge of facing India later in the season.
Read also: Australia was not trampled by the monsters on the pitch, but by the animals playing on it – India
Ahead of the latest Border-Gavaskar Trophy, the Pat Cummins-led side might be given a chance considering their red-hot form at home and the fact that India were slightly weakened due to injuries to some of their key players. Had been.
The world’s top-ranked team, however, was aware of the challenge that awaited them. A camp in Sydney where he batted on poor pitches and then a camp in Bengaluru where the management even copied Ravichandran Ashwin’s bowling.
Turns out, it was all in vain as Australia were blown away inside three days of the first Test in Nagpur as the duo of Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja shared 15 wickets between them to take India to a massive win.
Former Australian cricketer Mark Waugh credited the Indian lower-order batsmen for the way they tackled the bowlers despite the pitch getting increasingly challenging.
“The pitch was fresh, it looked like it was spinning a lot. He (Ravindra) got Jadeja out early. You have to give credit to Akshar Patel and Mohammed Shami, they batted really well. Shami missed a catch which cost him dearly. I think from my point of view, (Akshar) Patel batted really well,” Waugh said star sports,
Waugh feels that Cummins should have bowled more and could have tried to test the Indian batsmen with fewer balls more often.
“I would have liked to see Pat Cummins bowling a little more. I don’t think he bowled enough short stuff. When tailenders start building partnerships and look comfortable at the crease, I believe it’s worth rolling the dice a bit,” Waugh said.
For the record, Cummins bowled 20.3 overs and took 2/78. His fellow fast bowler Scott Boland bowled 17 wicketless overs, while the offspin duo of Nathan Lyon and Todd Murphy bowled a combined 96 overs between them.
“I know the surface is slow but you never know what you can get from it. I think Australia bowled only two or three short balls in the whole innings. I think they should have hit the pitch harder And let’s see what happens. Maybe the Australians were guilty of not trying hard enough and waiting for something to happen, maybe the Indian batsmen were at fault,” Waugh said.
The lead up to the series was dominated by talks of a spin-friendly pitch. However, on the same track where Australia’s batsmen struggled, scoring 177 in the first innings and 91 in the second, India scored 400.
The second Test starts in Delhi from 17 February.
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