Former Indian head coach Ravi Shastri has urged Australia to play like Australia if they are to bounce back in the ongoing Border-Gavaskar series against India. The visitors suffered a huge loss of an innings and 132 runs in the opening Test match at Nagpur.
Shastri feels Australia looked timid in their approach and there was a lot of bonhomie on the field, which was un-Australian. Australia is well known to play hard but Shastri was surprised with the visitors’ approach in the opening Test.
The former Indian all-rounder wants the tourists to be aggressive and return to their old ways if they are to savor success in the tough Indian conditions.
Ravi Shastri wrote in his column for Sydney Morning Herald, “I want to start off with a strong piece of advice for the Australian team. Save the English manners for the Ashes. What you need are good old Australian manners here in India to bounce back from the defeat in Nagpur.”
Shastri feels the writing will be on the wall if Australia doesn’t get their act together in the Delhi Test match.
“I want to see them come out and be their aggressive selves in Delhi. To back their ability and play with intent. I was surprised by the lack of it, especially in that second innings, where they were rolled for 91. If you lose, go down throwing punches. Not in the timid, almost un-Australian, fashion that they surrendered against the Indian spinners at the VCA Stadium. But the punch has to be thrown immediately, and they need to hit India hard from the very start in Delhi. If Australia don’t get at India right away, the possibility of a 3-0 or even a 4-0 series defeat looms large,” said Shastri.
The renowned commentator wants Australia to leave out their IPL alliances for later and wants the tourists to take the bull by its horns.
“I would also ask the Aussies to leave their Indian Premier League buddies behind and keep them for later. It felt like there was a bit too much bonhomie on the field in Nagpur for my liking. I want to see that characteristic hard-hitting Aussie intent come to the fore in Delhi,” said Shastri.
“I can say this with confidence: the Indians will be relentless, as they are always in India. This is as good a bowling attack as they’ve ever had, both in terms of the fast bowlers and the spinners. India has never had a spin trio where all three are all-rounders.”
“It’s not all lost for the Aussies though, and they need to tell themselves that. Look yourself in the mirror and realize that you’re not as bad as what transpired on Saturday. It was one day, one session where you messed up.”
The second Test match will be played in Delhi from Friday onwards.
