Indian cricket icon Sunil Gavaskar has branded Josh Hazlewood’s omission from the Adelaide Test suspicious, suggesting it was related to the champion paceman’s divisive comments rather than injury.
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Hazlewood has been ruled out of the second Test with a side strain, having set off claims of fractures within the Australian team by putting the onus for a series-opening defeat on to the batters.
Writing for Sportstar, Gavaskar said there was no sign that Hazlewood was injured in Perth.
“The panic in the Australian ranks is palpable, what with former players calling for heads to be chopped off and some even hinting at cracks in the Australian team after Josh Hazlewood’s media interview at the end of the third day’s play, where he suggested that it was up to the batters to now do something.
“Now, a few days later, Hazlewood is out of the second Test and possibly the series too with a supposed side strain. Strange, that, since nobody had noticed anything wrong with Hazlewood at that media conference. Mystery, mystery — the like of which used to be common in Indian cricket in the past. Now it’s the Aussies, and like old McDonald, I’m simply loving it.”
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Indian media are also focusing on Australia’s struggles against top fast-bowler Jasprit Bumrah, who took eight wickets in Perth.
Writing for the Hindustan Times, Ashish Magotra pondered whether the break between Tests had been more beneficial for Australia or India.
“But the one thing that almost everyone can agree on is that Australia would have had Jasprit Bumrah on their mind during this break.
“They would have gone over the videos, studied the data and obsessed over getting through his overs. In the recent series at home, New Zealand frustrated Bumrah and they won. If Australia can do that; if they can even get through his first spell, it would change the game, and perhaps the series.”
Writing for the Deccan Herald, Madhi Jawali said that perhaps only Travis Head could feel he had Bumrah’s measure.
“After a humbling loss in the Perth Test, a leading Australian newspaper commented, ‘Bumrah is living inside Marnus Labuschagne’s head.’ It was as much a tribute to Jasprit Bumrah’s fear-inducing skills as it was a castigation of Labuschagne’s inadequacies against the Indian pace spearhead.
“During his miserable 52-ball two in the first innings, the once-prolific right-hander was like a cat on a hot tin roof against Bumrah, taking multiple painful blows on the body and remaining largely clueless. Come to think of it, not many Australian batters can say they are comfortable against the current World No. bowler.”
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Meanwhile, India’s own contentious selections are in the spotlight.
A Press Trust of India report questioned whether champion off-spinner Ravichandran Ashton would play any part in the Test series.
“He is a bonafide legend with 536 Test wickets but imminent future isn’t looking bright for Ravichandran Ashwin, who might not get to roll his arm in the current Border-Gavaskar Trophy unless any of the remaining four tracks warrants two spinners.
“If the tracks on offer continue to assist seam and bounce like in Perth, the 38-year-old may find it very difficult to make it to the playing eleven unless team management’s first choice Washington Sundar bowls badly.
“But even in that case, Ravindra Jadeja, with superior batting credentials in SENA countries, is expected to get the nod ahead of the Chennai tweaker.”
Former Test off-spinner Harbhajan Singh said, per The Times of India: “Washington had showed during the New Zealand series that he is ready to take over the mantle from Ashwin in coming days.
“I don’t think 38 is old. He is not a 58-year-old. But yes, after so many years, the shoulders do experience fatigue and wear and tear, so the zip can just be a bit less.”
In the batting line-up, there remains opposing views about where returning captain Rohit Sharma should slot in.
“I feel Rohit should come in at No. 6 because Rishabh Pant too, has shaped up very well at No 5. The left-right combo, too, can be maintained that way,“ said former Indian selector Devang Gandhi, per the Deccan Chronicle.
Harbhajan disagreed.
“I don’t see Rohit coming in at number five or six. Either Rohit will open with Yashasvi Jaiswal, with KL Rahul coming in at number three, or he will bat no later than number three,” he told PTI.
“Number six for Rohit wouldn’t be in best interest of the team. Your top four in batting order should be the four pillars and someone like Rohit at the top would only add greater fillip.”
