AUS v IND 2018-19: Ricky Ponting comes up with a change for team India ahead of Boxing Test

Indian openers Murali Vijay and KL Rahul have let down the team big time.

KL Rahul and M Vijay have failed to give India substantial starts in both the Tests

Opening partnership in the first innings of Adelaide Test for India was just 3 runs. The openers KL Rahul and Murali Vijay scored just 2 and 11 runs, respectively. We saw an improvement in the second Test as the first wicket partnership was stretched to 63 runs. Rahul in that innings scored 44 with the bat after showing some fight. However, Vijay again fell on a low score of just 18 runs. 

Nothing much has changed in the second Test. The first innings here at Perth was a mirror of last Test's first innings. Vijay (0) fell first as India's score read 6/1. Not too long when Rahul followed him and went back on just 2. 

It is clear that the Indian openers are not doing their task. It's not only about scoring runs, but they also are not making it easy for the upcoming batsmen by seeing off the vulnerable period.

Former Australia captain Ricky Ponting is disappointed with the performance and he has suggested a change before the third Test.

“I think it’s got to be Murali Vijay who goes,” Ponting told cricket.com.au. “It was probably a bit of a bat-off coming into the series between those two. I saw him (Shaw) out in the outfield today hitting a few balls, starting to look like he’s getting around a bit better and with 10 days to go before the next Test you’d think he’ll come back in. So I think it’s got to be Vijay that goes out,” Ponting said.

Shaw was India's first choice but an unfortunate ankle injury in the only warm-up game against Cricket Australia XI made it impossible for him to play the opening Test.

The 19-year-old hasn't recovered completely and that is the reason India had to continue with the same opening pair. 

Interestingly, in all three innings in this Test series till now, Vijay has been dismissed by Aussie quick Mitchell Starc. 

“We saw him get out twice in Adelaide to very similar shots; two balls from Starc that just pushed across, didn’t swing back in and he nicked both of those and he got the other one today that comes back through the gate. Give credit to Starc for the way he’s bowled to him,” Ponting added.

(With Inputs of Cricket Australia's website) 

 
 

By Sihyeu Singh - 16 Dec, 2018

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