Australia suffered back-to-back defeats at the hands of India in the ongoing Border-Gavaskar series to trail the four-match Test series 0-2. The visitors lost the first match by an innings and 132 runs and then followed it up with six wicket hammering in Delhi Test. India wrapped up both the matches within three days to dent Australia's confidence.
Meanwhile, Australia's legendary cricketer Greg Chappell, who also happened to coach Team India once, came down heavily on Australia's lacklustre performance in the first two Tests against India. While citing Mike Tyson, he said that Austrlaia ‘punched themselves in the mouth long before the first ball was even balled’.
"It was Mike Tyson who said in the lead-up to a fight with Evander Holyfield: Everyone has a plan until they get punched in the mouth.
"My concern after watching the first two Tests is that the Australian team punched themselves in the mouth long before the first ball was even bowled," Chappell wrote in the Sydney Morning Herald.
Chappell also slammed Australia's planning for the ongoing tour. "It is one thing to plan, but to base that plan on a flawed premise is an exercise in futility," he added.
He also advised Australia to play on their strength and not dwell on something which they don't have expertise in.
"Australia needed to play to their strengths to have a chance of winning this series. Spin bowling is not our strength. Picking spinners for the sake of it is not the way to success in India. We had to pick our best bowlers and trust them to do the job and back that with sensible batting, based on sound principles."
The 74-year-old said leaving out Boland for an extra spinner was a mistake.
"That Cummins under-bowled himself and failed to use the short ball on a wicket of variable bounce was another mistake. To complete the trifecta, it seems that no one saw fit to tell Cummins that he was under-bowling and that he should use the short ball."
Chappell also was critical about Australian batters' over dependance on the sweep shots which scripted their defeat in the second innings of the Delhi Test.
"Adding it to your repertoire in spinning conditions can be sensible, but not if it is the only option. There are other shots that are less risky and likely to be more profitable but, because the sweep for most batsmen has to be pre-meditated, the other options invariably fall by the wayside.
"One of the first things to learn about batting in Indian conditions is that you have more time than you realise. The main goal should be to survive the first couple of overs and rotate the strike. If you can survive that, then batting no longer seems as challenging as Fermat's Last Theorem," he further added.
"What can Australia do from here? Firstly, pick their best team and then play with the passion, tenacity and grit which is our hallmark. Australian fans know that it is tough in India.
"They can accept getting beaten by a better side, but they won't cop seeing an Australian team playing recklessly and bowled out in a session or two and turning its toes up inside three days. There is red-hot anger, bewilderment and embarrassment in our fans," Chappell concluded.
In absence of regular captain Pat Cummins, Steve Smith will be seen Australian pack as the third Test which will be played from March 1 to March 5 in Indore. While the final Test will be played in Ahmedabad.
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