I like Pat Cummins’ pre-game declaration that the Aussies are going to be more aggressive in the second Test because they’ve got to change things up if they’re any chance of getting the momentum back from India.
Momentum is so important in a long series like this four-match contest and at the moment it’s all one way after what we saw when India took the Aussies to the cleaners last week in Nagpur.
Cummins, David Warner and Nathan Lyon are the three guys who I’d like to see really bounce back from the first Test by taking the fight to India.
If you’re gonna be aggressive about your game you’ve got to always be dictating with what your game is built around, what the pitch conditions are doing and what the actual match situation is – whether it’s the bowlers you’re facing as a batter or what you’re doing with the ball.
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It’s a very general term but I like that they are trying to shift momentum and asking yourself how you’re going to do that as a team but also with individual plans.
(Photo by Paul Kane – CA/Cricket Australia via Getty Images)
If they are lucky enough to win the toss and bat first again, Warner has to be aggressive. Particularly in that second innings in Nagpur he was watching every ball like a hawk when he was facing the spinners and he looked like a sitting duck.
That’s not how he plays his best – we saw when he smashed that double ton at the Boxing Day Test in Melbourne that’s his best way of building an innings.
He’s got to start with that mentality and go on with the job.
With Warner and Usman Khawaja, within that first hour of batting I want to be able to see that they’ve made changes and improved their tactics.
In India, the problem is if you get into a frame of mind that’s too negative, eventually you’re going to get a ball that pops up and hits you on the glove or it goes straight on or skids through your defences.
And the bowlers need to react too. Todd Murphy was brilliant with seven-for on debut but our established champions in Cummins and Lyon have to bounce back.
David Warner. (Photo by Robert Cianflone/Getty Images)
Lyon has said he’s been watching a lot of footage of Ravichandran Ashwin so I’ll be interested to see what subtle changes he’s made to his repertoire.
With Cummins, maybe it was a case of he felt like the team under-achieved with the bat and he had to roll India straight away late on day one but I’ve never seen him hit around like that first spell.
I think we’ll know from his first spell in the second Test at Delhi that the Cummins we know is back, that he’s not leaking runs and he’s constantly threatening the front pad and the wickets.
I reckon we’ll see an improved performance from Patty as well – that’s crucial for Australia’s chances.
(Photo by Mark Kolbe/Getty Images)
Like I’ve said before and after the first Test, whether we bat first or second, the Aussies can’t underachieve or they’ll be no chance.
Our two best batters, Marnus Labuschagne and Steve Smith, probably don’t need to change too much but the other guys need to examine their plans and work out what’s best for them.
India are sitting pretty. A couple of their big guns in Cheteshwar Pujara and Virat Kohli missed out in the first Test and that won’t happen all the time.
And they’ve beautifully balanced their attack with three spinners and the two quicks.
I like that the Aussies are giving it a red-hot go and whoever they end up picking in the final XI will have that aggressive mindset drummed into them. Hopefully it works.
qwetzen
Roar Rookie
You realise a majority of the umpires are not Indian in this series, right? Better than you realise what "Umpire's Call" is...
Jay
Guest
"Lucky enough to win the toss again".... well that's a given, Cummins has won about 90% of coin tosses as captain. Can't remember the last time he lost one.
Rowdy
Roar Rookie
So much to remember.
Rowdy
Roar Rookie
Thanks man. Funny how it got known then. I do remember him going to town on them. Maybe it's not as much as l remember
DTM
Roar Rookie
The final is already booked for England (The Oval I think). I'm not sure if India is a lock yet but I suggested to someone a month ago that they should put their house on it.
Rowdy
Roar Rookie
What with his record. Talking with Epstein expressing his predilections? Grabbing females on the feline?
Big Daddy
Roar Rookie
Where was George , probably texting Tim with a business plan .
Big Daddy
Roar Rookie
What bar did they walk into .
Big Daddy
Roar Rookie
Multiple choice question and answer .
Pierro
Roar Rookie
Bancroft or Warner . go on don you can admit warner has to go . just say the words ..
Don Freo
Roar Rookie
Agar has been excluded on one test...without being given a decent bowl. Prior to that he averaged 25 in Bangladesh, taking 7 wickets in 2 tests. Surely he was picked for these conditions. Renshaw was atrocious. When side is in trouble, you protect your wicket. Don't just surrender.
Michael Keeffe
Roar Guru
I can accept Bancroft is in form, he's having a good shield summer, but Renshaw isn't out of form, average over 50 this summer in shield and made 180 runs for PM's XI against West Indies. Not sure how he is out of form based on one poor test. They are the two form openers from the shield / fc summer. Whiteman (who is a solid bat) is averaging 37 this summer in the shield and made 11 and 1 against South Africa in the CA XI tour game. Not terrible form but definitely not one of the form openers. Daniel Hughes, Tim Ward and Marcus Harris are all having better shield summers than Whiteman.
Don Freo
Roar Rookie
Love to know what the explanation to Agar is. I wonder if Kuhnemann can look him in the eye.
Sedz
Guest
Is there any chance of India & Australia playing in WTC finals at NZ? I would say that would be a fair final game. who else are the other contenders to reach WTC?
DTM
Roar Rookie
My predictions for this test: Warner – will fail in one innings and get 30 or 40 in the other. Khawaja – wont get past 20 in either innings. Labs – a big score in one innings but a failure in the other. Will also get a trundle with his medium pacers. Smith – 2 solid contributions but no century and no thumbs up Head – 70 odd in one innings but nothing in the other. Will pick up 2 or 3 wickets. Green – (hate to say) double failure late edit Handscomb – another 30 odd but no major contribution. Carey – useful contributions in quick time but no 50’s Cummins – hardly any runs and only a couple of wickets for the match Lyon – 5 or 6 wickets for the game but will go for 150+ Murphy – will get smacked around and only pick up 1 or 2 wickets Khunemann – 2 or 3 wickets for the game but no real threat to the Indians. Agar – will do another impeccable job carrying the drinks and substituting in the field as required. India win by 300 runs.
DTM
Roar Rookie
I'm not a fan of Donald but to be fair, his name should be swapped out for Prince Andrew.
DTM
Roar Rookie
Falling on deaf ears. Should have read "You need to give all players (except Agar) a few opportunities."
Shire
Roar Rookie
Absolutely agreed. Many pros have the blinders on when it comes to selection since they're still stuck in the bubble, even after their career is over.
Perthstayer
Roar Rookie
I think Australia should bowl first. This new mindset can be best felt when everyone's out in the field, bowlers adopting these talked of changes, fielders talking, cold shoulder the opposition, constantly change the field, rotate bowling when not expected etc etc. Basically don't just rinse and repeat the last 20 years. In response to Atherton's (correct) overnight comment that the moving ball is Australia's krpyonite, let's put the hammer down to get 20 wickets.
GP
Guest
You realise a majority of the umpires are not Indian in this series, right? That managed to seep into that sponge of yours?