IND vs AUS: Michael Clarke – After Michael Hussey, Matthew Hayden, and, Allan Border, former Australia captain Michael Clarke has joined the chorus of criticism following the team’s abject six-wicket loss against India in the second Test. Clarke said the Pat Cummins-side preparation suffered because of Cricket Australia making BBL a priority, and also due to poor team selection. The visitors did not play a tour game, and instead only had a four-day preparatory camp in Alur. Clarke feels that was a major major mistake, that cost Australia two Tests. Follow IND vs AUS Live Updates with InsideSport.IN.
“I’m not surprised by what I’m seeing because we didn’t have a tour game,” Clarke said on Monday on Big Sports Breakfast. “Major, major, major mistake. There should have been at least one game over there to get used to the conditions.
IND vs AUS: ‘What was I watching’ Michael Clarke points out HORROR mistakes in outgoing Pat Cummins captaincy, REVEALS plan to counterattack ahead of Indore Test, CHECK out
IND vs AUS: Clarke questions team selection, sweeping method for Australia’s horrific show in Delhi
While in the first Test Clarke pointed out Travis Head’s exclusion as the turning point, in the second Test, the former Australia captain questioned the sweeping madness. The visitors lost as many as seven wickets to sweeping and reverse-sweeping Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja. Clarke felt they were not the right conditions to sweep against spin.
“Selection for the first Test, major, major mistake. Second Test, blokes sweeping, we saw enough of that in the first Test match. They’re not the right conditions to sweep when you start your innings. And they’re never going to be the right conditions to reverse sweep against the spin at the start of your innings.”
It was Steve Smith who decided to sweep his way to success against India spinners, but failed to connect the ball as he was dismissed for 9. The right-hand batters triggered a batting collapse as Australia lost eight wickets for just 28 runs. Clarke said the visitors failed to learn from India as they did not sweep. The former Australia batter also advised Pat Cummins & Co to play with the straight bat in the Indore Test.
“Against spin bowling on a pitch like that, you would say my ‘swim between the flags’ is play straight, hit with spin.
“Let’s just stick to those two theories. Straight bat … I’m going to be playing every single ball with the spin.”
IND vs AUS: ‘What was I watching’ Michael Clarke points out HORROR mistakes in outgoing Pat Cummins captaincy, REVEALS plan to counterattack ahead of Indore Test, CHECK out
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