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The Indian press and former players savagely attacked the national cricket team on Saturday after they fell to their lowest score in a “humiliating” and “astonishing” test defeat in Australia.
India was eliminated 36 on the board in the second inning of Test 1 in Adelaide when Australian pacemakers Josh Hazlewood and Pat Cummins put the visitors to the sword.
In cricket-mad India, The Times of India called the performance and the defeat (the hosts achieved an eight-wicket victory in just the third day) the “Adelaide Massacre.”
“India did almost everything right on the second day,” the newspaper said in a lengthy autopsy. “Day 3, however, saw Australian fast bowlers, especially Josh Hazlewood and Pat Cummins, come out with a vengeance.”
India’s hitting performance – neither player reached double figures – was an “astonishing act of compliant surrender,” the newspaper said, calling Hazlewood with his five-by-eight star figures the “boss-wrecker.”
The Indian Express wondered if the “summer of 36” is “the lowest point in Indian cricket,” adding wryly that players had “at least buried the ghost” of 1974, when the previous all-time low of 42 was set. .
Forty-six years ago, when India was thrashed by England at Lord’s, that entry saw at least one player, Eknath Solkar making 18 failures, reach double figures, the newspaper recalled.
The Republic television channel on its website called the hitting performance “humiliating”, with the middle order of Cheteshwar Pujara, Virat Kohli and Ajinkya Rahane “seriously exposed.”
Virat Kohli said he was confident the team would recover, but the Indian patron talisman is returning home now to be with his Bollywood star wife at the birth of their first child.
With Kohli absent and a “question mark” on the aptitude of key hitter Rohit Sharma, “the India team has a lot to think about,” the Times of India said.
Funny Tendulkar
Meanwhile, former great Indian Sachin Tendulkar was kind to the defeat and congratulated the Australians.
“With the way India hit and pitched in the first inning, they were in the driver’s seat, but the Australians came back very hard this morning,” he added. tweeted.
“That’s the beauty of test cricket. It NEVER ends until it is over. India was outclassed in the second half. Congratulations to Australia!”
With the way India hit and pitched in the first inning, they were in the driver’s seat, but the Australians came back very hard this morning.
That is the beauty of test cricket.
It NEVER ends until it ends. India was overtaken in the second half. Congratulations to Australia!– Sachin Tendulkar (@sachin_rt) December 19, 2020
However, former Indian pacemaker Irfan Pathan said: “Very disappointed with the result. We all hope that the Indian team will play better cricket.”
Kris Srikkanth, former India starter, captain and coach, was equally relentless.
“All the hard work India put in in the first inning was lost to a pretty pathetic hitting in a span of 20 overs! Congratulations @CricketAus.” Srikkanth tweeted.
“It’s time for our guys to dig deep and put a decent total on the board for our bowlers!”
Very disappointed with the result. We all hope that the Indian team will play better cricket #INDVAUS
– Irfan Pathan (@IrfanPathan) December 19, 2020
All the hard work done by India in the first inning was lost to a pretty pathetic hitting in a span of 20 overs! congratulations @CricketAus And the trio in particular! It’s time for our guys to dig deep and put a decent total on the board for our bowlers! #INDvsAUS #INDVAUS
– Kris Srikkanth (@KrisSrikkanth) December 19, 2020
Former India Test player Sanjay Manjrekar said India “He clearly needs to improve his defensive skills. Easier said than done in today’s environment.”
Sure, 36 will be looked at in isolation and should be too, but here are India’s totals from the last 3 tests (2 in New Zealand) when the ball has moved: 165, 191, 242, 124,244,36. Clearly, India needs to improve its defensive skills. Easier said than done in today’s environment.
– Sanjay Manjrekar (@sanjaymanjrekar) December 19, 2020
Senior journalist Ayaz Memon saw some positives in India’s “superb” bowling performance, warning Australians to “be careful” in the remaining tests.
“That said, a loss of this magnitude has led the team into a lot of confusion: Kohli unavailable, Shami injured, unreliable starters, Pujara, Rahane, Vehari, Saha unconvincing. Shastri & Co swimming in trouble,” he said.
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