After Australia’s weak second innings in the second Test against India in Delhi, former Indian cricketer and head coach Ravi Shastri criticised the batsmen’ poor effort. Australia lost nine wickets in one session on the third morning of the Delhi Test, conceding from a good position.
Ravi Shastri believed the Australian batsmen failed because they did not trust their defence against the Indian spinners. Australian batsmen continued to sweep Indian bowlers, costing them dearly. The former Indian all-rounder believed that too many batsmen experimented instead of trusting their skills.
I suppose application and lack of self-confidence have let them down. Australia paid dearly for its indifference and laziness. If you don’t trust your defence, you’re doomed because you’ll consider breaking free sooner than you should. When you don’t trust your defence, how can you spend time in the crease? I saw no Australian batsmen (do that). “What struck me was some of their most senior players also stepped out there and looked to do things out of the usual, something they’re not used to,” Shastri told the ICC Review Podcast.
A 4-0 win here psychologically signals the opposition: Ravi Shastri
The former Indian head coach thinks a clean sweep in the four-match Test series will send a strong message to their opponents, who may play in the WTC final later this year. He believed the Aussies will change when their fast bowlers were fully healthy.
“A 4-0 win psychologically sends a powerful signal to the opposition. Australia’s injured fast bowlers will return, thus conditions will change. “But that psychological dent will make India believe that, even in those conditions, they’re good enough to upstage Australia,” he continued.
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