'Major turmoil': Indian media savages team over shock Test collapse
Indian media have savaged their national cricket team after their historic collapse against Australia handed the hosts a shock victory on day three of the first Test.
The best of three series couldn’t have gotten off to a worse start for the visitors, who well and truly had the upper hand heading into their second innings at the Adelaide Oval.
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What followed on day three was a historic collapse.
The visitors resumed at 1-9 on Saturday, leading by 62 runs.
Pat Cummins (4-21) and Josh Hazlewood (5-8) created unmitigated chaos in the ensuing 90 minutes, during which no batsman reached double figures.
The tourists were out for 36 in their second innings after Mohammed Shami retired hurt, having been struck on his exposed right arm by a brute of a ball from Cummins.
New-look opening pair Joe Burns (51 not out) and Matthew Wade (33) shared a 70-run stand as Australia needed just 21 overs to complete an incredible victory.
The incredible turnaround, made possible by India’s lowest ever innings total in Test cricket, left Indian media up in arms.
The Times of India described what had unfolded as a ‘massacre’.
“India did almost everything right on Day 2,” the paper said. “
Day 3 however saw the Aussie fast bowlers especially Josh Hazlewood and Pat Cummins come out with a vengeance.”
The Times weren’t alone in their displeasure at the result, with plenty of former Indian players criticising the performance as well.
Indian cricket greats unhappy with shock collapse
Former Indian opener and selector Kris Srikkanth savaged the effort on Twitter, labelling the second innings collapse ‘pathetic’.
“All the hard work done by India in the 1st innings lost by pretty pathetic batting in a span of 20 overs!” he wrote.
“Time for our boys to dig deep and put a decent total on the board for our bowlers!”
Speaking to Cricbuzz, fellow former player Parthiv Patel described it as a ‘shameful’ performance.
“Players like Virat Kohli, Hanuma Vihari, Ajinkya Rahane, have all played on the biggest of stages, ” Patel said.
“Even if you are facing Hazlewood, Starc, Cummins, someone could have put their heads down and at least stitched one partnership.”
Many others took to Twitter to register their displeasure.
London goes from Tier 2 to Tier 4 in 4 days !!!!! How can they get it so wrong !!!??? #Uttermadness
— Michael Vaughan (@MichaelVaughan) December 19, 2020
With the way India batted & bowled in the 1st innings, they were in the driver's seat, but the Aussies came back really hard this morning.
That is the beauty of Test cricket.
It’s NEVER over till it’s over. India was outclassed in the 2nd half. Congratulations to Australia!— Sachin Tendulkar (@sachin_rt) December 19, 2020
Excellent & Aggressive cricket by @CricketAus . Just the perfect win for the hosts, Test cricket is here to remind us that even a good day at work isn’t good enough. If you want to seal the game every over is important. #INDvsAUSTest
— Reema Malhotra (@ReemaMalhotra8) December 19, 2020
With AAP
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