Allan Border and Matthew Hayden, legendary Australian cricketers, have slammed Pat Cummins and co. for letting Virat Kohli score a century easily in India’s 295-run win in the first BGT 2024 Test in Perth.
After being bowled out for 150 in the first innings after choosing to bat, India bowled out Australia for 104 runs with stand-in captain Jasprit Bumrah taking 5/30. Then thanks to 77 by KL Rahul and his 201-run opening stand with Yashasvi Jaiswal, who scored 161 runs, India managed to post 487/6d in their second innings, as Australia was set 534 runs to win the match.
Virat Kohli, who was coming off a barren run in Tests at home, reeled off a brilliant 100* in the second innings, propelling India to a very good lead.
Allan Border voiced his disappointment regarding Australia's approach to Kohli's innings. He believed this could significantly impact the remaining matches.
"I was really disappointed in the way we let Kohli roll on to a hundred without much resistance. We don't want this guy full of confidence for the rest of the series," Border said on SEN Radio.
Border also questioned Cummins' captaincy, claiming that the techniques used enabled Kohli to restore form following recent troubles against New Zealand.
Matthew Hayden held similar views, highlighting inadequacies in Australia's field placements.
“They missed a few tricks with Virat Kohli in the early part of his innings. It was so easy for him to get off strike... when he got the bit between the teeth, it was too late,” Hayden told Channel 7.
Hayden also criticized the delayed usage of short-pitched bowling against Yashasvi Jaiswal, who first appeared vulnerable to the strategy.
"Maybe tiny things with Pat Cummins, the ability to think through these decisions," Hayden remarked.
Hayden speculated that Australia's poor first-innings batting performance could have contributed to their ineffective strategies.
Both former players emphasized the importance of better planning to counter India's batting lineup in the upcoming Tests. They warned that a confident Kohli may be a game-changer in the five-match series.
