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There have been many articles on The Roar recently pointing to what needs to change for the Australian team to turn things around in India.
They have mostly focused on long-term structural change, changes in time for the Ashes or angry rants about the selection panel.
The Border/Gavaskar trophy is one of the most prestigious in world cricket and it is still possible that Australia can retain it.
Yet it appears as if so many have just given up on this series.
This article looks at what can be done, not in the next six months, not in time for the Ashes but between now and the next Test to ensure that at the very least the Indians have to work hard to secure the win/draw they need.
Here are five quick and easy steps that can be implemented straight away that I believe will improve Australia’s chances.
1 Back to basics selection
I am happy to admit that the couple of sessions of Shield cricket I have seen this year hardly qualifies me to make a call on whether the squad picked was the strongest possible. I also don’t blame the selectors for trying something a little different by using bits and pieces all-rounders.
However with our backs against the wall, it is time to return to basics and pick our best six batsmen, a keeper, two spinners and two pace bowlers.
If one of our batsmen happens to be able to bowl that is a bonus. If our bowlers can bat a bit that is great as well but the time has come to move Wade back to seven and fill the top six positions with our six most capable batsmen.
Yes, that means Khawaja must come in.
2 Clarke to bat at three
Michael Clarke has confirmed that he will move up the order and bat in the top four. Right now the difference between him batting three, four or five is whether he comes in at 1-50, 2-50 or 3-50.
The move to three will help those around him.
Cowan will benefit as he is a partnership builder who works best when playing second fiddle and Hughes will benefit by being able to come in a little down the order without the same pressure attached to the number three position.
3 Ban the paddle sweep
I don’t normally suggest management tell batsman what shots to play, however I am happy to make an exception for that silly paddle sweep that got both Warner and Hughes out. It is a shot that has become popular on flat limited over wickets but doesn’t belong on an Indian Test wicket.
4 Rotate the fast bowlers
Rotation has been a dirty word all year, however if there was ever a situation where it was warranted, it is in India.
Bowling on unfavourable pitches and with pace bowling being the one area where we do have an abundance of talent, there is great benefit in resting Patterson or Siddle and bringing in one of the left armers.
5 Play Doherty and Lyon
Indian pitches are tricky; if batsmen get settled they can score big runs as we saw with the Vijay and Pujara partnership. However once a wicket falls it can be hard for new batsmen, particularly with spin from either end.
Again we saw this with the seven wickets taken by Maxwell and Doherty.
I may be on my own here but I don’t think Lyon bowled too badly in the first innings of the first Test.
Before Dhoni came in with a classic innings he was our most likely bowler and I wonder if things would have been different if he had another spinner to keep the pressure on at the other end.
Well done to Maxwell on his four wickets but surely the time has come to select the two blokes who a few weeks ago were regarded as the best two spinners in this country.
Playing either as a lone spinner would be a mistake, they need to be given the chance of bowling in tandem.
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