As a batting unit, Australia has struggled in the first two Tests of the current four-match Test series against India, losing both games as a result of batting collapses. According to former Australian fast bowler Glenn McGrath, the Kangaroos have relied too heavily on star hitters Steve Smith and Marnus Labuschagne thus far in the series.
With 119 runs at an average of 29.75, Labuschagne has scored the most runs for Australia in the series. On the other hand, Smith has only been able to score 71 runs at an average of 23.66. Compared to Australia’s previous tour of India in 2017, when he finished with the most runs scored in the series, the Australian vice-captain has had a dissimilar series thus far. “I think they’re relying too much on (Steve) Smith and Marnus (Labuschagne) at the moment. Travis Head has had a really good year as well. The whole batting line-up has to stand up,” McGrath was quoted as saying by India Today.
McGrath further said that Australia was too defensive in the first Test and was too aggressive in the second match. He suggested the batters find a balance between the two. “In the first Test, they were too defensive, and in the second Test, they were too aggressive. So, we will see if they’ve learned from those two matches,” the former pacer said. “They have to find a happy medium and put a price on their wicket. In India, you have to build innings on solid defense and then look at ways to score and put the pressure back on the bowlers,” he added.
McGrath went on to say that the Australian bowlers are having trouble getting rid of the Indian lower order because they are having trouble clearing it out. He also gave the Indian spin-trio credit for their great performance thus far in the series. “They haven’t been able to come and clean up the tail. The last three batters have put on 160-plus. They are the ones causing problems. Whether they got the bowling changes right? Maybe Pat Cummins could have come in earlier,” the three-time World Cup winner said.
“Little bit of reverse swing try to pick early wickets at the death there. Give credit to Indian players (Ravindra Jadeja, R Ashwin, and Axar Patel). They know how to play on these pitches. They are spin bowlers. They know what the opposition is trying to do,” the legendary seamer concluded.
