2020-12-28 13:30:42
MELBOURNE: There were no demons in the MCG pitch but very very poor batting by the Australian batsmen, said the legendary Ricky Ponting, lashing out at the home batters for playing rash shots against the Indian bowlers in the second Test.
India are marching towards a dominant series-levelling victory after reducing Australia to 133 for six at stumps on the third day. The hosts are ahead by just two runs with only four wickets in hand, going into the penultimate day.
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And Ponting minced no words in criticising the Australian batsmen.
“You can’t blame the pitch. The pitch has been absolutely perfect today. It’s a little bit of spin, yes, but you’d expect that. Day three of a Test Match. Very little on offer for the fast bowlers, but it’s just been poor batting. Very, very poor batting so far,” Ponting was quoted as saying by Seven.
The former skipper believes the Australians were not proactive enough against the Indian bowlers in this match.
“It’s been one of the reasons, I think, that they’ve eventually got themselves out, playing rash shots. They haven’t been able to tick the scoreboard over on a regular enough basis. Pressure builds. When pressure builds, bad shots come,” Ponting said.
“I talked about it in the first innings as well particularly with the way they played Ravi Ashwin. They weren’t proactive against him. Yes, it’s been good bowling, but sometimes against the best bowlers you have to take more risks as a batsman. For the sheer fact they’re not going to bowl bad balls.”
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In Pics: Australia on the ropes as India close in on Melbourne victory
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A depleted Indian attack shrugged off an injury to pacer Umesh Yadav to rout Australia’s batsmen and give themselves a platform for a series-levelling victory on Day 3 of the second Test. (Getty Images)
With Umesh lost to a calf strain after lunch, all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja chipped in two wickets and seamers Jasprit Bumrah and Mohd. Siraj took one apiece to leave Australia 133/6 at stumps, clinging to a lead of 2 runs. (AP photo)
Raw all-rounder Cameron Green, 17 not out, and tailender Pat Cummins, on 15, dug in to ensure India bat again but Australia face a massive task to set them a proper chase. (AP photo)
Alarmingly for the hosts, Steve Smith’s (8) form woes were starkly exposed, with Bumrah this time bowling him around his legs shortly after the tea break. (AP photo)
Smith (1, 1*, 9, 8), who nursed a back injury in the leadup to Adelaide, is yet to reach double-figures this series. (Getty Images)
Smith’s wicket triggered a collapse with Travis Head (17) and Tim Paine (1) then falling in successive overs. (Getty Images)
Replacement opener Matthew Wade managed a 137-ball 40 and was the lone fighter for Australia on Day 3. (AFP photo)
Earlier, India, anchored by stand-in captain Ajinkya Rahane’s inspirational century on Day 2, were bowled out for 326 before lunch in reply to Australia’s 195. (Getty Images)
Rahane, who got run out on 112, eventually ended as India’s highest scorer in the first innings. Jadeja too hit an impressive 57. (ANI photo)
After losing last 5 wickets for 49 runs, India ended their innings at 326, taking a lead of 131 runs. (AFP photo)
He went on to praise the display of the Indian bowling attack.
“The lesser skilled bowlers you can sit on all day because you know you’re going to one or two scoring opportunities an over, but Bumrah, Ashwin, Jadeja, even Siraj to a certain degree in this game, they don’t make many mistakes.
“They’ve actually forced the Australian batsman into making mistakes. When you’re just sitting there waiting for good bowlers to make mistakes, you’re basically a sitting duck,” Ponting said.
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