Former India head coach Ravi Shastri has issued a harsh reminder to the visiting team that they could not show their characteristic resillient behaviour, as he expects them to shed their ‘English behavior’.
Updated Feb 16, 2023 | 10:46 PM IST
Ravi Shastri blasts the Australian team for their timid attitude (Courtesy: AP/PTI)
KEY HIGHLIGHTS
- India take on Australia in the 2nd Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy at Delhi.
- Australia lost the first match by an innings and 132 runs.
- Ravi Shatri tore into the Australian team for their timid display in the 1st Test.
“I want to start off with a strong piece of advice for the Australian team. Save the English manners for the Ashes. What you need are good old Australian manners here in India to bounce back from the defeat in Nagpur,” Ravi Shastri wrote in his column in the Sydney Morning Herald.
He also wrote that he would like to see the Australians back to their fighting best against India in the second Test match at Delhi. “I want to see them come out and be their aggressive selves in Delhi. To back their ability and play with intent. I was surprised by the lack of it, especially in that second innings, where they were rolled for 91. If you lose, go down throwing punches. Not in the timid, almost un-Australian, fashion that they surrendered against the Indian spinners at the VCA Stadium. But the punch has to be thrown immediately, and they need to hit India hard from the very start in Delhi. If Australia don’t get at India right away, the possibility of a 3-0 or even a 4-0 series defeat looms large,” wrote the former Indian head coach.
Ravi Shastri also wrote that the Australians need to keep their camaraderie with their friends from their Indian Premier League (IPL) sides aside and focus more on the cricket.
“I would also ask the Aussies to leave their Indian Premier League buddies behind and keep them for later. It felt like there was a bit too much bonhomie on the field in Nagpur for my liking. I want to see that characteristic hard-hitting Aussie intent come to the fore in Delhi. I can say this with confidence: the Indians will be relentless, as they are always in India. This is as good a bowling attack as they’ve ever had, both in terms of the fast bowlers and the spinners. India have never had a spin trio where all three are all-rounders. It’s not all lost for the Aussies though, and they need to tell themselves that. Look yourself in the mirror and realise that you’re not as bad as what transpired on Saturday. It was one day, one session where you messed up,” he added.
India are set to play Australia in the second Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy at Delhi from February 17.
