Australia vs India: Shane Warne wants hosts to make a change in the playing XI for second Test

The scoreline would suggest that Australia gave India a tough fight in the just-concluded first Test in Adelaide. However, barring the fifth day, the story was a bit different. Right from the toss till the time when KL Rahul caught Josh Hazlewood to bring an end to the game, India were pretty much on top.

India won the game by 31 runs but the margin could have been much greater had India not lost their last 5 wickets for just 25 runs in the second innings and wrapped up Australia’s tail early. The game looked all done and dusted when their last recognized batsman and skipper Tim Paine left with the scoreboard reading 187 for 7 as the hosts were chasing an improbable 322. The tail-enders provided some stiff resistance and gave India a mighty scare but the visitors eventually managed to register a memorable win.

In fact, Australia could have reduced India to a low total had they managed to capitalize on a fine start with the ball. Asked to bowl first, Australia had India reeling at 41 for 4 and later 127 for 6.  However, they could not find a way past Cheteshwar Pujara and India recovered to post a respectable 250. In the second innings, India’s top-order did well and although Australia struck back to remove the tail quickly, the damage was already done.

Shane Warne’s advice:

With Australia clearly struggling with the ball, legendary spinner Shane Warne had a word of advice for his compatriots. The former spinner suggested that the hosts would need an additional pace bowling option.

“Just go back to day one, you lose the toss, which is a huge toss,” he told Cricket 360. “You get India 4-41, 6-127, not far off the new ball. Mitchell Starc has the new ball. Nine, ten, eleven don’t bat that well and India find a way to make 250.

“They shouldn’t make 200 if Mitchell Starc is at his best. Warne feels that Australia should drop Peter Handscomb and pick all-rounder Marcus Stoinis who recently impressed in Sheffield Shield. “I think with it being 45 degrees out in the middle, we just lacked that fifth bowler.

“Perth, given what we are hearing it’s going to be a nice, fast bouncy pitch, so I would be making one change and that would be to bring in Marcus Stoinis who got and 85 in the last Shield match and a 60 in the Shield game before. But mainly it would be for his all-round capabilities. just to relieve little pressure of Starc who might be able to bowl one less spell and be a little bit better,” said Warne.

The second Test would start on December 14 in Perth.

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~ Written by Bijoy

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