Glenn McGrath was part of an Australian team that went down in the history of Test cricket as the best ever. The Australians under Tim Paine though played defensively against India and had scored 92 runs in 48 overs at the tea break, which meant they had scored their runs at a run rate of less than 2 runs per over.
Glenn McGrath while commentating during the ongoing first Test match between India and Australia was critical of the approach of the Australian batsmen on Day 2 of the day-night Test in Adelaide. India put up 244 in the first innings and then reduced the hosts to 92/5 at tea, before bowling them eventually out for 191.
Glenn McGrath: Australia Were Defensive And Lacked Intent To Put Indian Bowlers Under Pressure
The team when Glenn McGrath played was full of batsmen having an aggressive mindset who loved to put the opposition under pressure, whatever be the situation of the match. This was more the case while playing at home as the Australian teams of that generation had attacking batsmen like Adam Gilchrist, Matthew Hayden and Ricky Ponting who were capable to quite often score in excess of 350 in one day of a Test.
Against India in December 2020, the Australians had scored 92 runs in 48 overs at a run rate of less than 2 runs per over besides losing 5 wickets.
“That’s been the issue today, they have been very defensive and sitting back, waiting for the bad ball and just taking singles rather than looking a bit more intent and take it to the bowlers and put a little bit of pressure back on the bowlers.”
While the quick loss of wickets can be a reason behind the slow approach, all the Australian batsmen went into their shell apart from Marnus Labuschagne, who showed some positive intent, albeit after being given two lives by the Indian fielders.
Glenn McGrath: Wickets Will Come Sooner Or Later In Such A Pitch’
Glenn McGrath felt the Australians allowed the Indian bowlers comprising of Umesh Yadav, Mohammed Shami, Jasprit Bumrah and Ravichandran Ashwin to put more pressure on them by not getting quick runs.
“Indian bowlers have been able to bowl wherever they want and when you are not scoring, you would get into trouble very soon because on such a pitch the wickets will come sooner or later. So if you are not scoring you are not moving anywhere,” Glenn McGrath said while analysing the match situation for host broadcaster Sony during the tea break.
Australia finally were dismissed for 191 trailing India by 53 runs with Marnus Labuschagne scoring 47 and Tim Paine scoring an unbeaten 73. While Umesh Yadav picked 3 scalps, Ravichandran Ashwin was the wrecker in chief with 4 wickets while Jasprit Bumrah picked 2 wickets. Australia managed a run rate of 2.65 as Tim Paine played aggressively in the fag end of Australian innings.