Kris Srikkanth Breaks Down The Australian Batting Lineup

Implying that the Australian batting line up is not very strong, former India captain Kris Srikkanth has remarked that the Tim Paine-led squad’s batting strength comprises of 30% Steve Smith, 30% of David Warner and 30% of the rest. However, the former cricketer lauded the Aussies’ bowling attack and said that it is ‘very good’. Ahead of the Boxing Day Test, Srikkanth predicted that it would be ‘difficult’ for the Indians in the second Test at the MCG without ‘King Kohli’. 

“I think Virat summed it up very well when he said the positive intent was missing. They went into more of a shell, the Indians. The mindset I think was too defensive. They have to regroup. They have to have a bit more positive intent. The best way is just to go for it,” Srikkanth said. “But when you miss King Kohli, it’s going to make it difficult let’s be honest. And Shami. But I’m sure they’ll come out and fight. Everybody is disappointed but then everyone has taken the view as a bad dream,” he added.

 With just a day to go for the Boxing Day Test at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG), Team India released its playing XI on Friday morning, announcing 4 changes to the team fielded at Adelaide. While under-fire Prithvi Shaw has been benched, young gun Shubman Gill has been handed his debut. Mohammed Siraj has also been roped in as the third pacer to join Jasprit Bumrah and Umesh Yadav as Shami has been ruled out of the series owing to an injury. Moreover, Ajinkya Rahane has brought in Rishabh Pant in place of Wriddhiman Saha and Ravindra Jadeja for Virat Kohli.