NEW DELHI: India was obviously at a lost for tactics and plan on the day that Steve Smith and Travis Head hammered hundreds to put Australia ahead in the third Test at the Gabba.
The fact that Rohit Sharma was far from being his most dynamic and creative skipper in Brisbane didn’t help either. Kerry O’Keeffe, a former cricket player for Australia, thought Rohit’s field placements on day two were poor.
Daniel Vettori bowls to India players in the nets at The Gabba
“I don’t think Rohit Sharma has had his best day as skipper. He will say the pitch was so good that we were just trying to control it with outfielders, but you had to pressure Australia and get them out,” he said to Fox Sports.
Former England captain Michael Vaughan too criticized India for failing to follow a specific strategy for a significant portion of the game.
“They don’t settle on a tactic for long enough. Are they trying to snick him off? Why don’t they try to bounce him out? Why don’t they go full and wide, pack the off side?”
Ravi Shastri, the former head coach of India, praised Head for using his 152-run, 18-bound score to put pressure on Indian bowlers.
“He’s looked solid today, very composed, not overanxious, just treating the bowling on merit. Anything loose, he’s put it away.”
The same was remarked by O’Keeffe about Head, who has now scored consecutive Test hundreds against India.
“At the base of his success, is Travis Head walks in and detaches from consequence; he doesn’t fear failure. He doesn’t lookout the scorecard, he looks at the bowling and the pitch… it’s what you strive for in cricket.”