India looked completely out of ideas as Steve Smith and Travis Head unleashed a batting masterclass, leaving the tour struggling on Day 2 of the ongoing third Test at The Gabba in Brisbane.
Smith and Head’s explosive centuries propelled Australia into a dominant position as they finished the day with 405/7 at stumps, exposing India’s lack of effective tactics to counter their attack.
Rohit Sharma’s captaincy criticized by former cricketers after Australia attack in Brisbane
Compounding India’s woes, Rohit Sharma’s captaincy lacked the spark and imagination to turn the tide in their favor as Travis Head and Steve Smith brutally battered the bowlers around the Gabba in Brisbane in the crucial third. test match.
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Criticizing Rohit Sharma’s captaincy in the ongoing Gabba Test, former Australian cricketer Kerry O’Keeffe has pointed out that his fielding positions missed the mark, allowing Australia to dominate without much of a fight on Day 2 .
O’Keeffe felt Rohit had a bad day as captain in Brisbane. The well-known commentator also pointed out that India’s inability to apply consistent pressure only made the task more difficult for the players, who were left struggling to make progress.
Don’t think Rohit Sharma has had his best day as captain: Kerry O’Keeffe
O’Keeffe further noted that the Indian cricket team’s poor execution of plans and defensive approach left them with a mountain to climb as Australia took full control of the crucial Test match at The Galle.
Kerry O’Keeffe was quoted by Fox Sports: “I don’t think Rohit Sharma has had his best day as captain. He will say that the pitch was so good that we were just trying to control it with the fielders, but we had to put pressure on Australia and get them out.”
The former Australian cricketer added: “At the base of his success is Travis Head, moving in and out of the consequences; He is not afraid of failure. He doesn’t look at the scorecard; “He looks at the bowling and the field… that’s what you look for in cricket.”
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Meanwhile, India’s lack of a clear strategy came under fire when former England captain Michael Vaughan criticized the faltering approach of Rohit Sharma and his players against Australia during the Gabba Test. He felt that the Indian team failed to follow a single game plan on Day 2.
Michael Vaughan criticizes Rohit Sharma’s captaincy in Gabba Test
The Indian cricket team struggled between half-hearted attempts without committing to a single approach, and this inconsistency allowed Travis Head and Steve Smith to thrive in Brisbane.
Without a definitive plan, whether targeting the edges, employing aggressive short balls or setting up traps with fuller passing, the Indian team’s efforts failed, and Vaughan believes the absence of a solid strategy exposed cracks in their preparation and execution in a crucial moment. Test series moment.
Michael Vaughan said on Fox Sports during the Gabba Test: “They don’t settle on a tactic for long enough. Are they trying to sneak it in? Why don’t they try to kick him out? Why don’t they go all out and pack the offside?
However, Ravi Shastri earlier defended Rohit’s captaincy when the former Indian head coach blamed the Indian bowlers for Australia taking the lead in the ongoing Gabba Test.