If India get 280 to 300, mate, they might not have to bat again: Michael Clarke

Former Australia captain Michael Clarke has made a very strong statement with regards to team India, stating that India could easily cause an innings defeat to Australia provided they score somewhere between 280-300 in their first innings with the bat.

The Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2023 is underway in Nagpur with Day 1 seeing India getting the better of Australia in almost every department, first rattling them with the ball and then setting their innings with the bat. 

They might not have to bat again: Michael Clarke 

“If India get 280 to 300, mate, they might not have to bat again,” the 41-year-old said while speaking on Big Sports Breakfast.

The former right-handed batter stated that beating India in India is already an uphill task to even dream of, and on top of that with the position in which India concluded Day 1 of the first Test, there are high chances they might just as well cause an innings defeat, provided they manage to bat through their first innings to score somewhere between 280-300.

“I know we haven’t got many runs and that’s a tough one for Patty to work with, so he’s trying to give his bowlers some protection, but you want the batter to try and take a risk. You want them to try and take a risk and hit that one over the top. If they hit one or two over the top, fair play, put him back. But he’s just got to be really smart with his tactics here. If India get 280 to 300, mate, they might not have to bat again," added Clarke.

Clarke also expressed his immense surprise and disappointment at current Australia Test captain Pat Cummins' tactics during the proceedings on Day 1. He stated that he was flabbergasted with Cummins' field placements when Nathan Lyon and Todd Murphy were bowling. Also, he was immensely disappointed with Australia's batting display against the Indian bowlers.

He suggested that the only way the Kangaroos could even think of getting back into the game was by picking all of the India wickets at a low score.

"I know they’ve only got 177 runs on the board, but you’ve still got to look to take wickets. I was surprised at Pat Cummins’ tactics yesterday. He had a long-on every ball Nathan Lyon and Todd Murphy bowled. If the ball’s spinning like you think it is, for them to try and hit one over mid-on’s head brings in an inside edge to mid-wicket, brings in stumped, brings in bowled, brings in caught bat-pad," he mentioned.

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