3 minute read

What sort of a response will we see from the Australian Test Cricket team after one of their most humiliating home defeats?

Check out the Racing And Sports Preview for the Indian Tests this summer with a betting idea at the end.

AUSTRALIA v INDIA

2nd Test D/N

6 – 10 December 2024 @ Adelaide Oval

Father Time has no winning opponent. He is forever undefeated. Was there a sense over the four days in Perth that a few of the locals met him and their sporting mortality was laid bare?

Or were they delivered a poisoned chalice? You can quite possibly and deservedly offer criticism for Cricket Australia's lead up planning.

A lack of forethought in first class centre wicket practice plus a year of dilly dallying about the openers while allowing a 37+ year old to determine his own used-by-date. And now a collective group who appear out of form all at once.

Even the small amount of time that could have occurred with those Pakistan games might have been something to gain some confidence.

No doubt the loss of Cameron Green hindered some future-proofing of the batting. He'd been elevated to Number 4 and a brilliant 174 at Wellington showed he was up for the challenge and the skill required.

But there is, and has been for at least 3 years, a constant fragility. The ball is getting to Khawaja quicker than it has before, Labuschagne and Smith are missing straighter and straighter ones and Head/Marsh knick off with regularity after no feet movement. The latter two have been the more constant contributors.

Hard to knock too much on Nathan McSweeney because anyone can fail without the experience behind them but he too was not moving the tootsies far and an angled bat was very much like Bancroft before him. Pads will be hit and often with that technique.

So what do you do with two sensational but struggling players? Smith an all-time great nearing the end and Labuschagne a record most would love.

Marnus' career is a play in two parts. He's made 11 career centuries – 10 of which were in his first 30 games. The average was 60. The following 21 games has seen just one hundred and only an average of 30.

The predictability of edging to the cordon was easy to see. Then by trying to avoid that, you'd find the front pad in the way and twice lbw in Perth.

You'd understand it hard for selectors to be too quick to make the big decision as there is not too much behind him. Then with the massive constraint of a lack of first class cricket on the horizon, as the BBL satiates Cricket Australia's desires, where do you find a worthwhile and in form replacement?

This conundrum has been coming for a while but perhaps now the real story has been exposed. Having no Shield from 6 December to 8 February means selectors have to either stick with those struggling or change to a white ball, ramping and switch hitting purveyor.

Sometimes out of the darkness can come a shimmering light (so came from some writings around the place). Depending on Mitch Marsh's injury, it may unearth Beau Webster from Tassie who is averaging 50 with the bat this season. Tack on that he scored easily the most runs in 23/24 @ 58 and took 30 wickets @ 29. But again he would begin at age 30.

They would be backing up the bowling which we did mention in the First Test preview. The Indian First Innings 150 seems an eternity ago now. Was that just a spicy deck wallpapering over cracks?

Just when you might think we'd need to start thinking about Jhye Richardson, he goes and throws the shoulder out in celebration. Admittedly he came back on but jeepers creepers!!

It's the durability of those holding court or the fragility of those wanting to serve it up!

The one thing you can do is compare Hazelwood, Starc and Cummins to an Indian attack which was painfully weak and measurably poor at home. New Zealand whacked them asunder.

And yet in Perth, Mohammed Siraj was striking with monotony, the new boy Harshit Rana got under skins and stirred up a few and then there was some bloke called Bumrah.

The stand in captain was bowling hand grenades on a dime. Anyone who remembers Malcolm Marshall in the late 80s surely must have some recollections.

Clearly not in terms of speed, and the action because that is so unique, but just the ability to harness the pressure, hit the length, attack the stumps and suss out every batsman's weakness.

He takes wickets at 20 each – less when down under. Then when you think you've gotten through him, he'll produce either a fast yorker or a slower ball to wreck the flow of a batter.

Thinking his way through an order and debilitating the techniques, that is the MO and it's so impressive.

With the icing on the cake needing to be layered up, in walks Virat at 2-275 with so many runs to play with and time for nice 'day long net'. The superstar had struggled for a long time.

Kohli had just two hundreds prior to this Test from 2019. The drought didn't need any exposure – it was evident for all to witness. We won't know until Sydney as to whether the rains returned but everything seems greener for him after posting the three figures.

Toss in the kid Jaiswal adding to his resume and Nitish Kumar Reddy making handy runs both times. Not much went wrong for the visitors.

If you are Australia you want to hang on one coattail. Four years ago, India was bowled out for 36 in 21.2 overs and got cleaned up. Their own tails were well and truly between their legs heading for Boxing Day.

As the home side (and local supporters) were ready to triumph the happenings and rejoice at an easy summer in front of the box or out slip/slop/slapping, a rejuvenation occurred.

India won at the MCG, saved at the SCG and famously saluted at the Gabba to break the 'Gabbatoir' hoodoo and win with most of their best sitting in the stands.

Could Australia repeat such a turnaround? I have my doubts but the fickle nature of Test Cricket around the world almost ensures it rather will than might allow it. India picks a stronger side on paper but in reality is it a stronger side on form?

You have to go back to the Bradman era to see the last time Australian turned around going down 2-Nil to win a series.

A Day Night game in Adelaide may just be the oil that makes the rusty old gate get back into working order. Seven times Australia has played this style of match in South Australia for seven wins. All bar one have been comprehensive.

Still – would you want to be facing Bumrah with a new cherry at 9pm on any mown strip? You might feel better equipped in the backyard at Mum's.

And now you tack on the loss of Josh Hazlewood adding to the negativity. He takes his wickets at 24 at all grounds but has 41 here at 16. Then under the lights, he's got 13 at 13. He could be a HUGE loss.

Rishabh Pant showed once again why he's such a dangerous proposition. That unconventionality teases the opponents and apart from his wild, village yahoo in the second dig, he once more scored when it counted most.

Sticking with him to carry on his excellent record on Australian wickets.

Boy, it will take some psychological effort from whoever is employed to do psychological things with the home side. But it is possible as we've seen right around the cricketing world. Fluctuations do abound.

Give them one more chance to show up as a proud team. But it's almost the last hope. Any rumours of internal friction will be open to all if a similar effort occurs.

Father Time was last seen standing behind the Adelaide Oval nets. Is he just moonlighting or ready to come knocking?