India’s commendable change in the current Border-Gavaskar trophy has exposed Australia’s batting lineup. The hosts have been battling the bat since the start of the 4-match test event in Adelaide. The Australians may have attacked the tourists in the opening of the series, but it is a proven fact that the bowlers did most of the work.
Australia’s batting problems continued in the Boxing Day test at Melbourne Cricket Ground. After taking out India by 326 in the first innings, the hosts were able to set a paltry 70-run goal for Rahane & Co. As a result, the India team recorded an 8-wicket win to level the series 1-1.
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Meanwhile, Indian legend Sachin Tendulkar, who has played against some of the best Australian teams in his time, feels that Australia’s current batting lineup is “less settled” and that some are “playing for their places.”
“When I look at this Australian batting lineup and look at some of the previous lineups, I feel like the previous lineups were established. Those players hit with a different kind of intention, but this team doesn’t seem very settled, ”Tendulkar told PTI.
In three full Australian innings in the first two trials, Indian bowlers split them for 191, 195 and 200 respectively, something that was unknown in the days of Allan Border, Mark Taylor, the Waugh brothers. Or during the time of Ricky Ponting, Matthew Hayden, Damien Martyn, Adam Gilchrist and even Michael Clarke
“In this current Australian team, there are players who are not in good shape and are not sure of their positions. In previous teams, those hitters hit in their spaces as there was a lot of security in their batting lineup, ”Tendulkar added.
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For someone who has always disapproved of any kind of comparisons, Tendulkar didn’t want to compare the leadership styles of Rahane and Virat Kohli.
“People shouldn’t make comparisons to Virat. Ajinkya has a different personality. His intention was aggressive ”. I would like to remind everyone that they are both Indian and they both play for India, so no individual beats India. The team and the country are above everything, ”he said.
Rahane’s hit of 112, according to Tendulkar, was a perfect combination of caution and aggression.
“I thought Ajinkya hit brilliantly. He was calm, relaxed and collected. He had an aggressive intention, but the aggression was correctly balanced by calm and security. So he didn’t miss opportunities when there was a limit ball. And when you had to be patient, he was patient. The intention was very good, ”said Tendulkar.
(With PTI inputs)
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