Australia’s first innings in Sydney was a microcosm of all the problems they are facing: shot selection, concentration, absorbing pressure, building on starts
Andrew McGlashan05-Jan-20197:33
Martyn: Australia’s soft dismissals just sad, disappointing
Australia’s Test batting is at its lowest ebb.The first innings scorecard in Sydney may not look as bad as some, but the performance was a microcosm of all the problems Australia are facing: shot selection, concentration, absorbing pressure, building on starts. Five of the top six were dismissed between 20 and 79 on a pitch with few demons. They still have no centuries in the series and the top score – Marcus Harris’ 79 today – is Australia’s lowest high (outside of one-off Tests) in a series for 100 years.This dismissals told a story. A repetitive one.
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Khawaja c Pujara b Kuldeep 27Usman Khawaja’s promotion to open was part of the batting reshuffle for this Test which saw Aaron Finch dropped. He was given a life on the second evening when Rishabh Pant dropped an edge off Mohammed Shami. Khawaja progressed smoothly early on the third day as Australia played positively in the morning session before a shot that wouldn’t have looked great in the one-day series which he will be playing in next week. He has faced the most balls by an Australia batsman in the series but has rarely been able to escape the shackles of the India attack.Harris b Jadeja 79It was all looking so good for Marcus Harris as he gave more than a passing impression of David Warner with his punchy drives off front and back foot to bring up a 67-ball half-century. Surely, now, a chance for Australia’s first century of the series? Alas, no, as the most half-hearted shots of the innings led to him dragging the ball on. However, he deserves more than just a pass mark for his first Test series and will emerge as one of the few Australians with credit.S Marsh c Rahane b Jadeja 8Nothing from this series will quell the Shaun Marsh debate. There was a graceful cover drive to get off the mark in this innings before a limp outside edge to slip. As a senior batsman, Australia needed more from Marsh if they were to have a chance of competing. He was allowed to feel a little rough about things after Melbourne, falling to Jasprit Bumrah’s brilliant slower ball and a borderline lbw, but it can only be the selectors’ perceptions at a lack of alternatives that will preserve his place in the team barring a significant second-innings score. Even with scores of 60, 45 and 44 in this series he is averaging 18.10 in his last 10 Tests, dating back to Sydney against England last year.Rishabh Pant looks on as Marcus Harris plays onto his stumps•Getty ImagesLabuschagne c Rahane b Shami 38The shock selection – Marnus Labuschagne is one of Australia’s unlikeliest No.3s – stood up well during a 95-ball stay. Jasprit Bumrah almost trapped him first ball with another terrific yorker, but the ball brushed the boot outside the line of off stump. Labuschagne took a couple of confident boundaries off Kuldeep Yadav and was then involved in a combative duel with Mohammed Shami. There was a cover drive, a clip through midwicket, a guide over gully and a drive through mid-on. In the end, though, Shami won with the aid of some excellent captaincy from Virat Kohli who kept tweaking his leg-side field. It was a promising start, though, and should earn Labuschagne another chance.Head c & b Kuldeep 20Twice caught at third man in Perth. Twice bowled in Melbourne trying to attack the seamers. And now caught and bowled trying to take on the wrist spinner. Two half-centuries on the liveliest pitches in Adelaide and Perth have not been built on in the second half of the series. Travis Head is also in the curious position of having lost his one-day place when it was that form of the game that helped earn him his chance and now he seems intent on playing more aggressively in Tests.Paine b Kuldeep 5Tim Paine is an impressive person in a tough job. The Australian captain has dug in with the bat making five scores between 22 and 41 in the series. Since his return to Test cricket against England in 2017, he is averaging 34.31 – that’s handy for the No. 7 and would be even more so with a performing top order. That, however, looks a long way away.