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Ex-Australian fast bowler Ryan Harris believes his former team’s plans need a major rethink after they slipped into a 2-0 deficit in their test tour of India.
Australia looked in good shape heading into the third day of the second Test at the Feroz Shah Kotla Ground in Delhi, but a spectacular collapse of 9 for 48 paved the way for the hosts to retain the Border-Gavaskar Trophy a six wicket win.
Harris praised India as a quality side but said Pat Cummins’ team had not played their best cricket.
“The games over there move very quickly, we know that. After we saw Travis Head fall, they were on the slippery pole, weren’t they,” Harris told Sports Breakfast.
“Very disappointing that the trophy stays with India, and they’ve got to somehow find a way to bounce back coming into the third Test.
“I know that they were really focused on going to India and doing well and they have probably let themselves down so far.”
Several batters played questionable shots in the collapse, with wicketkeeper Alex Carey losing his leg stump after missing a reverse sweep and captain Pat Cummins bowled first ball attempting to heave Ravi Jadeja over the leg side.
Harris said the ultra-aggressive approach would have to be refined.
“It was like a shot-a-ball, and you’ve still got to have a good defence. Coming from a bowling point of view here, I’m not a batter, but you’ve still got to have a good defence, but I don’t think we saw that,” he said.
“I’d like to know how many sweep shots India played in their innings, we went out and tried to sweep everything.
“It is bloody hard, don’t get me wrong. Those wickets, we haven’t been good at them in a long time, but it just looked like the panic button had been hit.”
Harris said he was confused by the non-selection of left arm spinner Ashton Agar, with Queenslander Matthew Kuhnemann being picked ahead of the West Australian after being parachuted into the squad before the second Test.
“I’ve heard different things coming out of India that he didn’t want to play the first Test because he wasn’t ready, so why is he there?” he said.
“If you go on a tour, you go over there with eighteen guys ready to go. If not, you probably shouldn’t be there.
“There’s no doubt that Ashton Agar probably should’ve played the first Test … so that’s a question maybe someone has to answer.”
The Australians have plenty of time to conduct a review of the loss, with the third Test not getting underway until next Wednesday in Indore.
IMAGE: Yahoo Sports!