The Australian team completed a resounding victory in the third Test in Indore after outclassing their opponents in all aspects of the game. Ian Chappell, a former Australian captain, complained about the twisting track set up for the Indore Test, reminding India of their recent victory over Australia in two series.
Australia quickly overtook India’s total, despite an early hiccup in the morning session of the third day, owing to an explosive knock from opener Travis Head. Ian Chappell, a former Australian cricketer, was quick to criticise Australia for their bad choice to omit the southpaw from the opening Test of the series. The former Australian captain was dissatisfied with the Indore surface and said India did not need to prepare rank turners as they won back-to-back Test series in Australia while playing on completely different surfaces. He also criticised the players’ and management’s contributions to the field of play.
“That was ridiculous (on dropping Head in Nagpur Test). It was a non-selection stupidity that was. At least the Australians have seen the error in their ways. India need to see the error in their ways. Talking about trying to prepare pitches that suit India. Have India forgotten that they won the last two Test series in Australia? What the hell the administrators, players, coaches, anybody outside the curator (were doing?). What the hell are they having an input into the pitch for?” Chappell told ESPNCricinfo.
After reflecting on the game, Chappell believed that India’s failure to bat in the first innings was the crucial turning point in the Test match. Australia’s tenacious batting effort in their first innings gave the visitors a good lead and made their fourth-inning objective manageable. “The key to it in my opinion was bowling India out cheaply in the first innings. Once they did that, they got themselves a chance to a decent lead. It wasn’t a huge lead but on this pitch a pretty useful one. And then in the second innings only having to chase a low score,” he added.
