Australia suffered an embarrassing defeat by an innings and 132 runs in the opening Border-Gavaskar Test against India at VCA Stadium, Nagpur.
Left-arm spinner Ravindra Jadeja ran through the Australian batting line-up in the first innings, picking a five-wicket haul (5-47) to bundle out the visitors for a paltry 177.
After India took a massive first-innings lead of 223 runs, it was R Ashwin’s turn to demolish the Aussies with the ball. The veteran off-spinner returned with the figures of 5 for 37 in his 12 overs as the hosts bowl out the tourists for a mere 91 to wrap the match inside three days.
With the second Test scheduled to be held in Delhi from February 17, batting legend Allan Border shared his Australian playing XI while speaking on SEN 1170 Breakfast.
According to Border, the Australian team management made a blunder by leaving out left-handed batter Travis Head from the line-up in Nagpur.
“I assumed he had injured himself. I just couldn’t believe that Travis Head could have been dropped based only on the fact that he didn’t perform well the last time they were in India, Sri Lanka or whatever,” he said.
Before the India tour, Head played five Tests at home against West Indies and South Africa, amassing 525 runs at a remarkable average of 87.50.
“No doubt, he deserved the opportunity to play in that first Test match. I think they got that selection really wrong.”
Border also kept his faith in veteran opener David Warner. However, he also made it clear that the southpaw needs to take on more responsibility to remain in the squad.
“We just need to see something more from him at the top of the order,” Border noted.
The 67-year-old slammed the Australian side for overthinking about Indian pitches instead of focusing on the game.
He stated, “I believe we overthought some of the details, worrying about all the little gremlins in the pitch and whether they had been doctored in any way. When you get there, that is what you can expect. Since they overthought it, they chose the wrong team and plans for the first game.”
While the turning tracks in India demand more spinners, Allan Border suggested Australia to go with the combination of three pacers and one tweaker.
“Overall, that strategy has been effective for us. And whenever we’ve achieved something in India in the past, it’s been because of three men: Jason Gillespie, Michael Kasprowicz, and Glenn McGrath. Our fast bowlers did a great job for us, taking 20 wickets,” the Aussie great said.
Allan Border’s Australia XI for second Test:
David Warner, Usman Khawaja, Travis Head, Marnus Labuschagne, Steve Smith, Peter Handscomb, Cameron Green (if fit), Alex Carey, Pat Cummins, Nathan Lyon, Josh Hazlewood (if fit)
