‘I’m in shock’ – Shane Warne criticises Tim Paine, Nathan Lyon for their tactics against Cheteshwar Pujara

The Gabba, being Australia’s fortress in Test cricket, the pundits expected the hosts to have the upper hand going into the fourth and final match against India. Chasing 308 in the fourth innings, the odds were not quite in India’s favour. The visiting team didn’t get off the best of starts either, losing Rohit Sharma to Pat Cummins with India’s score at 18 in the ninth over.

However, Shubman Gill and Cheteshwar Pujara showed a great amount of resilience, putting on 114 runs for the second wicket in 39.4 overs. Even as Shubman was the more attacking of the two, Pujara kept occupying the crease with patience.

In the meantime, former Australian cricketer Shane Warne sounded utterly disappointed with the Aussies’ tactics against Pujara. Warne was bemused by the fact that Nathan Lyon and Tim Paine didn’t have a catching fielder on the off-side.

Warne not happy with tactics against Cheteshwar Pujara

“I just cannot believe it, after everything with the last series and this series and how he has bowled to Pujara with a bat-pad on the off-side, he looks a completely different player,” Warne was quoted as saying on Fox Cricket.

“What sort of conversations have they had with no bat-pad to start with this morning? I’m in shock. I’ve been disappointed with some of the tactics from the Australians this series, but this doesn’t make any sense whatsoever as well. I just cannot explain why he hasn’t got one,” Warne stated.

Another former Aussie, Mark Waugh, also vented out on Australia’s poor field placements in the crunch moments. “It’s really annoying me watching this. There’s so many men on the leg-side (instead), surely you can do away with one of those,” Waugh said.

As far as Shubman was concerned, he was unlucky to miss out on his maiden Test century. He scored 91 runs off 146 balls with six fours and two sixes before falling prey to Lyon. He showed grit and determination, putting India in a commanding position.

When he got out, India, led by Ajinkya Rahane, found themselves out of jail to quite some extent. At the other end, Pujara kept batting.