“This is an absolute disaster, 36 total, absolutely. This can’t be explained. Every good ball has a wicket. Mind you, the Indians didn’t throw their wickets. They were skirting the ball, and I was carrying. This is one of those. things in cricket that can happen. And it has happened. You have to accept it, “Bedi told IANS.
“My condolences go out to the Indian team. But the Australians really dominated and dwarfed the Indian batting lineup. They surprised the Indians by throwing themselves (closer to the batters), and the ball was moving a little. They didn’t throw short,” he observed .
India, after taking a 53-run lead in the first inning, faltered and went out for 36, the fourth-lowest overall score in 2,396 test matches played over 142 years, ‘beating’ its own 42 against England in 1974 at Lord’s. London. Australia won the first Test by eight wickets to take a 1-0 lead in the four-game series.
Bedi, 74, praised the Australian bowlers for exploiting conditions on the third morning of the match. Josh hazlewood and Pat cummins it captured five and four wards respectively when India capitulated.
“You have to give the Australians credit for bowling on a very narrow lane and bowling. The Australians played well, and all the good balls that were thrown took ground. Most of our guys were found to want against the ball. on the move. In particular, when you don’t have a good opening position, you’re always struggling, “said the illustrious left-arm spinner.
“I’m not entirely convinced about these two starting hitters (Prithvi Shaw and Mayank Agarwal), whether they belong here or not. They should have played Shubman Gill and KL Rahul. They are more organized. Gill is a very nice and organized boy; you need a longer rope. You can have tons of skill; but without the proper sense of cricket, that skill is zero. A tight defense is very important, “he emphasized.
To reinforce his strict defense point, Bedi cited the example of the former West Indies starter Rohan kanhai Rest of the World XI (RoW) -Australia second ‘Test’ match in Perth in 1971. Bedi and Sunil gavaskar they were part of the RoW team.
“RoW was eliminated for 59 in the first inning as Australian fast pitcher Dennis Lillee took eight wickets (8/29 in 7.1 overs). In those days we used to have an eight-ball over, and Lillee literally went through the RoW. second inning, Kanhai swept a century; it was a mind-blowing blow. He really crashed into Lillee and the other bowlers, “recalled the Delhi-based spinner, who was only 25 years old in 1971.
“I was quite young and not an intellectual observer at the time. I asked Kanhai ‘can you explain how the hell you made the shots on the same field where 59 were thrown at us earlier?’ He said “you saw me play those shots. Did you see my defense? I couldn’t have made those shots without strict defense. “That was almost 50 years ago, and Kanhai’s statement has not forgotten me. Strict defense is the keyword, especially in test matches, where you have to last five days. “he explained.
Although Bedi did not seem very happy with the XI team playing in Adelaide, he was not angry either and said he would give the “benefit of the doubt to the selectors on the spot.”
“After this match, Kohli would go home (for the imminent birth of her first child). Now with Kohli this is the situation. What will happen without Kohli? Now, they don’t have time to recover,” he said. referring to the second test that will begin on December 26 in Melbourne.
Bedi blamed both teams for playing too much T20 cricket which has impacted players’ play by switching to test matches.
“If you look at it, both teams’ overindulgence in the T20 format has rendered them sterile when it comes to tight defense. Test match cricket is totally different, and we are swayed by overindulgence in the stupid Premier League. India (IPL). (Indians) departed for Australia from the United Arab Emirates (where IPL was played from September to November). This was not the right kind of preparation for the test matches, “he said.
The India touring program comprised first the ODI 50+ series and then the T20, followed by the Test series.
“It’s very hypothetical. But ideally they should have played T20 matches first, 50-over ODIs and then Test matches. But even in T20 and ODIs, India’s performance was not too encouraging, but it was okay,” Bedi said.
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