Former Australia captain Steve Waugh was infuriated on the assume tank’s choice to drop Travis Head for the primary Test in opposition to India in Nagpur on Thursday.
The 57-year-old took to his Instagram to jot down, “Hard to believe we can drop the number 4 ranked test batsman in the world and probably our best batsman in the last 12 months plus he bowls better than average off spin – let’s wait and see-maybe the Aussie selectors are genius’s!”.
Head scored 525 runs at a mean of 87.50 within the 2022/23 Australian Test Summer in opposition to West Indies and South Africa over 5 matches at a strike charge of over 95.
The name could have been owing to the truth that Head’s presence would’ve meant Australia had 5 left-handed batters of their enjoying XI, a recipe of catastrophe within the making, courtesy of 1 Ravichandran Ashwin, who has had an apparent benefit in opposition to the like.
Australia chief selector George Bailey had earlier hinted that Head may tackle a “different role” within the subcontinent come the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. “I think you have to play different conditions, at different times. I think he (Head) has spoken to the fact he hasn’t been exposed to those conditions a great deal. And you can talk about it and try and replicate it but until you’ve actually been there and played on those types of wickets, that’s the only way, or certainly the fastest way of getting better in those conditions,” Bailey had advised the reporters.
In addition to Waugh, former Australia opener Mathew Hayden additionally expressed he was bowled over by the decision on commentary throughout the sport. “I’m just speechless,” Hayden stated on-air.
Matt Renshaw, who was picked within the XI forward Head, was dismissed for a golden duck as India dominated day one of many first Test. Captain Rohit Sharma (56 not out) scored an authoritative half-century after Ravindra Jadeja picked up a five-for with the hosts ending 77 for 1 at stumps, solely 100 runs behind the guests.
Jadeja, enjoying his first worldwide match after recovering from a knee damage, grabbed 5 wickets as India bowled out Australia for 177 of their first innings simply after tea. “I was bowling 10-12 hours every day and that helped me a lot. I was working on my rhythm because I knew that I have to play a Test match and I have to bowl long spells.” he stated after the day’s play.
Indian openers Rohit, who hit 9 fours and a six in his 69-ball unbeaten knock, and KL Rahul (20) then put up a 76-run opening stand. However, Rahul turned spinner Todd Murphy’s (1/13) first worldwide wicket as he was despatched packing within the penultimate over of the day.
