Sunil Gavaskar has claimed Australia’s Test team is in panic mode, adding further fuel to rumors that “cracks” have begun to open within the team, following Josh Hazlewood’s shock press conference last week.
While unloading on Pat Cummin’s Test side, the Indian Test cricket legend also took aim at the Australian media, rather bizarrely labeling both print and online publications as “alarmist”.
Much furor has surrounded what Australia must do to bounce back from their 295-run thrashing by India in Perth last week, a game Gavaskar said “can rank among the top 10 wins in recent times.”
The pressure on their top-order batsmen is increasing, with Marnus Labuschagne, Steve Smith and Usman Khawaja coming under fire after their performances during the first Test.
Gavaskar, meanwhile, says he “loves” watching the Australians flail as they try to recover from 1-0 down in the series in Adelaide.
“All the boasts about how (Perth’s) pitch was going to be fast and bouncy and scare the Indian batsmen were exactly that – the boasts of a bully,” Gavaskar. he wrote in his column for the Indian Sportstar.
In an explosive online column, Sunil Gavaskar branded the Australian media “alarmist” and claimed Pat Cummins’ side is in panic mode.
Pat Cummins’ team suffered a 295-run defeat to India in their first Test match in Perth last week.
Jasprit Bumrah starred with ball in hand, taking eight wickets in two innings, while India’s batsmen steamrolled Australia on the third day, establishing a 522-run lead at the end of the game.
“Mind you, it was not the Australian players but their support staff in the media, both electronic and print, who were trying to be alarmist.”
Last week, Hazlewood sent some Australian cricket fans into a frenzy, following his comments at a press conference that appeared to imply a rift had developed in the home team’s dressing room.
Meanwhile, the 33-year-old will miss the second Test in Adelaide as the seamer suffered a “mild injury to the left side”, something Gavaskar took particular interest in.
“The panic in the Australian ranks is palpable, with former players calling for their heads to be cut off and some even hinting at cracks in the Australian team following Josh Hazlewood’s media interview at the end of day three’s play, where he suggested that it was appropriate batsmen to do something now,” added Gavaskar, who played 125 Tests for India.
‘Now, a few days later, Hazlewood is out of the second Test and possibly the series as well with alleged side strain. It’s strange, since no one had noticed anything wrong with Hazlewood at that press conference.
‘Mystery, mystery… something similar to what used to be common in Indian cricket in the past.
“Now it’s the Aussies and, like old McDonald, I just love it.”
Cummins, Travis Head and Andrew McDonald have denied any indication that a rift may be emerging in the Australian dressing rooms.
Gavaskar also delved into the recent furor surrounding Josh Hazlewood’s comments implying there was a rift in the Australian camp.
Hazlewood was asked how Australia had planned to overcome their huge deficit in the first Test, before saying: “You’ll have to ask the batsmen that question.”
Adam Gilchrist (left) claimed Hazlewood’s statement made it appear there was a “split” in the Australian dressing room.
Gavaskar would go on to praise Jasprit Bumrah, who took eight wickets in both innings, stating that even some of the best batsmen in the world would have struggled against the Indian captain.
He also praised Yashasvi Jaiswal, who scored a sensational 161 during India’s second innings, along with Virat Kohli’s century, to set England a huge target of 522 runs on the third day.
Despite letting the game get away from them on day three, with Australia’s bowlers struggling to find wickets, Travis Head has claimed it would be foolish to write the hosts off in Adelaide, even after their dismal defeat in Perth .
“This team has faced adversity well,” he said.
‘With the small amount we’ve had in the last three or four years, we’ve played well.
‘We had some challenging moments and a couple of challenging tests last year that we were able to come out of… it’s a group that is well balanced and knows where they are.
‘We haven’t had a very good week. Alright. But we have four more opportunities to do it.
‘We will continue forward as we have done for the past few years.
Both Cummins and Travis Head have denied that there is such a rift within the Australian team.
Gavaskar also praised young Indian batsman Yashasvi Jaiswal (pictured), who made a score of 161 in the second innings.
‘As a team, we’ve been doing well for a while. We had a bad week.
“In recent years, there are many teams that lost the first Test or fell in the series and recovered and played very well.”
Sean Abbot and Brendan Doggett joined the team ahead of the Second Test, but Scott Boland is considered the most likely replacement for Hazlewood.
Pressed further about talks of a split in the Australian camp, Head said the talks “can be brought to an end”.
‘We have high expectations for both sides (batting and bowling), and it’s a very individualized sport.
“So we batsmen want to defend ourselves; we know how good our bowlers have been to us in the past and they have got us out of a lot of trouble.”
‘As a batting group, we know that if we get enough runs on the board, we will put ourselves in a great position.
‘As a hitter, I try to take a lot of pride in what I do, and knowing that if I can set it up for the big guys, they can knock it down for us, so (there’s) definitely a split.’