Former India cricketer Robin Uthappa has urged Australian batters to be more patient at the crease, taking a leaf out of Cheteshwar Pujara and Ajinkya Rahane’s playbook after Australia's batting collapse in the fourth Ashes Test in Melbourne, where the hosts were dismissed for just 152 and 132 in their two innings on a tricky green pitch.
The collapse contributed to Australia losing its first home Test against England in over 15 years. Former Australian star Matthew Hayden has already suggested changes in the coaching setup after repeated batting failures.
ALSO READ: Jason Gillespie's shocking revelation about leaving Pakistan Cricket as head coach goes viral
Uthappa's advice to Australia batters
Uthappa’s advice emphasises staying calm and focused in tough conditions, showing that patience and technique, like Pujara and Rahane, can make all the difference when runs are hard to come by.
“See, it’s a dichotomous situation. It’s not like it’s an impossible wicket. There are such wickets in Melbourne which are very juicy for fast bowlers. I think it’s because of the way cricket is played today. I feel like these pitches are unsporting, but if you have the right technique, the right mindset and the fight in you, you’ll be able to figure out a solution for this kind of wicket as well. It’s not a high-scoring game. It won’t be a 300-plus game, but even a 250 on this wicket is possible. You’ve got to fight it out. Play it like Pujara and Ajinkya Rahane. Definitely, you’ll score runs,” Uthappa said on his YouTube channel.
Uthappa on Root's batting
Uthappa further explained how England's Joe Root also looked clueless while batting on such surfaces, expressing his disappointment over Test matches finishing inside two days.
“I am saying this with a grain of salt because the way we’re playing Test cricket has now changed. I don’t enjoy it a lot, like Ashes Test matches that finish in two days. What are we doing to the sport for entertainment? Joe Root too was lost in that Test match. He didn’t know whether to play attacking cricket or play his own way in the second innings. It was quite unfortunate. I empathise with them,” he said.
SCG Pitch
While the MCG collapse grabbed headlines, all eyes are now on the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG) ahead of the fifth Ashes Test, which is scheduled to start on January 4. The SCG pitch is drawing attention for its healthy grass cover, which has sparked curiosity about how it will play.
SCG last hosted a Test match between India and Australia during the 2024–25 Border-Gavaskar Trophy, which ended in just two and a half days, with no team scoring more than 185 in any innings. Curator Adam Lewis faces a big challenge to prepare a fair, competitive wicket for the final Test, and fans will be watching closely to see how much grass is cut before the match begins.