Media slam overpaid Aussies after dismal show in the 1st Test
Australia lost the 1st Test by 20 runs which was their first ever defeat to the Bangladesh team in the longest format of the game.
Australia are placed much higher than Bangladesh in the Test team rankings. Quite obviously, they were expected to win the Test series in Bangladesh. However, continuing their slump in the subcontinent, the Aussies failed miserably and collapsed to a 20-run defeat in the first Test at Dhaka; their first ever at the hands of this opposition in the format. While there were individual performances of a mark from the visitors, there was a lack of combined efforts from Steven Smith’s men. They produced chances of pushing Bangladesh on the back-foot, but couldn’t quite capitalise on them.
The Australian team was highly criticised for their lacklustre performance and their inability to adjust to foreign conditions. Even the Australian media took a dig at their team. Melbourne Herald-Sun- a prominent newspaper in Australia slammed them for getting paid than their hosts despite ending on the losing end in the first Test.
“What happened in Dhaka was on one hand wonderful for world cricket and on the other embarrassing for a pack of overpaid prima donnas. Australia, if you’re going to go strike over their pay packets, you want to make sure you back it up in the field of play. Losing to Bangladesh is hardly doing,” the media stated.
They highlighted that each Aussie cricketer was paid 26,000 Australian dollars per week while a Bangladesh cricketer earns 500 dollars within the same time frame. In addition to that, Steve Smith and David Warner will also earn an annual salary of $ 2million each. Compared to that Shakib Al Hasan, Mushfiqur Rahim and Tamim Iqbal take away a combined salary of Tk 2.4 million.
The newspaper also brought up the issue, pertaining to the recent pay-dispute between Cricket Australia (CA) and Australian Cricket Association (ACA). “Did our national team expend too much energy on the Australian Cricket Association picket line and not enough in the nets?” the Aussie media added.
Reputation at stake for Australia
The second Test starts in Chittagong tomorrow. While Australia will be looking to draw level in the series, Bangladesh will be hoping for their maiden series triumph against the team from down under.
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