The reaction to the Indian whitewash hasn't been too kind, obviously. Despite what happened, not much focus has been done in the aftermath of the series. The main focus is on the forthcoming Border-Gavaskar Trophy (BGT) that starts later this month. The main focus has been on India while there is talk about the recent series. There's been a debate for Australia.
Former Indian captain, Sunil Gavaskar has criticised the batting style that has been implemented under the Rohit Sharma-Gautam Gambhir era. He believed that the attacking every ball style deeply damaged their performances. He said that the overreliance on this restricted the style of play. He believes that this style prohibits the calling of players such as Cheteshwar Pujara and Ajinkya Rahane to the side.
In connection to this, he used England as an example. He pointed to how "Bazball" hasn't been effective enough to pull out consistent results. He said, "The real issue is the thinking where again the short boundaries and big bats mean that batters, after playing three or four dot balls, think they can change the momentum by going for a big shot. It may work with the white ball, which doesn't swing, seam or spin as much,but with the red ball, it's flirting with danger, especially if one has just come in to bat."
He has implied that Test cricket is a game of patience and resillience. There's no need for swashbuckling plays. "Test cricket requires some patience, especially on pitches where the bowlers are getting some assistance but not many modern batters believe in that. Then there's this new thinking that, come what may, we will play only at breakneck speed in a five-day game and that means there is not much thought given to tiring the bowler out or waiting for conditions to improve."
He added, "That's why Pujaras and Rahanes have no place in the Indian team's plans. Pujara wore down the Australian attack, as did Rahane and so the stroke-makers could take advantage of a tired attack and flog it and make up for a slow but watchful start. That kind of thinking is not there. Now there's this business of belting the ball like England batters are doing and losing badly overseas."
It's not just Rohit Sharma whose in hot water. The coach, Gautam Gambhir has joined him. Both men were hit with hard questions post the whitewash. It's not just this series that has caused problems. Losses to Sri Lanka has also caused concern. They lost an ODI series to Sri Lanka for the first time in 27 years.
Gavaskar is under the belief that things will have to change if India don't win Down Under. He said, "I don't see any major change happening. I think the major change could like I said, could happen after the tour of Australia. And that too, if we don't do well. But otherwise this team has brought glory to the to the country, as early as this year against England when they came back after a defeat in the first test and won the next four test matches. So yes, this has been a bad series."
"This has been a bad dream. So I'm still very optimistic about this team. I'm still saying that we have to back this team because this is our team and we have to give them all the support so that they go to Australia in a better frame of mind and I can come back with a win, which is for the World Test Championship final."
Former Australian captain, Ian Chappell, has lambasted India and England's batting style. He has questioned the footwork of the batsmen such as Virat Kohli and mentioned his dislike for the reverse sweep shot. He said, "Virat Kohli's first-innings dismissal was the perfect example of India's lack of decisive footwork. Kohli was clean bowled by a delivery from Santner that if the batter had taken even a small pace out of his crease; he could have hit on the full. However, instead of Kohli's lack of decisive footwork being the culprit, his shot selection was questioned."
As mentioned above, he questioned the use of the reverse sweep and was flabagasted by India's use of the shot. He said, "Regarding the supposedly all-important sweep shot, who is the insensitive coach who preached that the reverse sweep is safer to play in Test cricket rather than employing decisive footwork? The danger of the reverse sweep in Tests was adequately revealed with the senseless dismissal of Yashasvi Jaiswal in the Mumbai Test."
Former England captain, Kevin Pietersen, was also critical of the batting. He wrote on X, "No one should be surprised by the lack of batting application and technique in Test Match cricket. Cricket is a ‘smackers’ game now and there is a disintegration of Test Match batting skill in the game. When it comes to playing spin, the only way, spend time playing against it for hours and hours and hours. There’s no quick remedy!”
In preparation for the series, both coach and captain have been handed a hammer blow as one of their premier bowlers, Mohammed Shami, hasn't been selected by his team, Bengal, for their upcoming two Ranji Trophy games. This only furthers his return from injury. With this, comes more uncertainty regarding his participation in the BGT.
Mohammed Siraj has been struggling to find a rhythm, hence Shami could've been the perfect aid to Jasprit Bumrah; while Akash Deep could have taken up the role of a third seamer. The line-up could've given India hope of making a difference in the Australia series and scripting a bounce back from the New Zealand low.
It's been claimed that both Sharma and Gambhir are on different wavelengths. This is in reference to the decision-making. After the era of then-captain, Virat Kohli-Anil Kumble was described as "untenable." This was the description given by Kumble at the time of his resignation.
Indian cricket has seen great camaraderie between its captain and head coach. Kohli and Ravi Shastri were a match made in heaven; aggressive, in-your-face. They believed in tit for tat and fighting fire with fire and were one of the main reasons behind India's rise as a nation which produces world-beating fast bowlers.
After both of them resigned, the Rohit Sharma and Rahul Dravid combination came into play. They were anything like Kohli and Shastri, but they knew how to win and were always in sync, whether it was picking the team, backing certain players or opting for pitches in home conditions. The depth of their bond could be gauged by Rohit's Instagram post, where he described Dravid as his "work wife" after winning the T20 World Cup earlier this year.
They haven't been able to reach common ground on many things in the first three series, out of which India have lost two - the Sri Lanka ODIs and the whitewash at home against New Zealand.
A poor start to the Australia series will shut the doors on India’s World Test Championship final hopes. That’s another reality waiting to hit hard. Whether BCCI (Indian cricket board) makes a review of the home losses public like they did with the 2022 T20 World Cup stocktaking, differing voices on strategy from Rohit and head coach Gautam Gambhir may necessitate an early appraisal.
Besides, Gambhir’s public messaging to "play Test cricket like Test cricket should be played" and "improve defensive plays" have been at odds with Rohit’s ultra-aggressive methods, in thought and action. There are also clear indications that Rohit and Gambhir want different pitches for home Tests. The previous management under Dravid had done away with rank turners after realising that sub-standard pitches bring the overseas spinners into the game but Gambhir has gone back to asking for pitches that turn viciously from Day 1.
Rohit's public statements on Gambhir and his support staff had a message. "They have been good. They have just come in. They are also understanding how this team operates, and how the players operate," he said. "It’s important for the players to make sure that the thought process of the coaching staff aligns with theirs and take it forward. It’s been only four or five months now, too early to judge anything."
India have cancelled an intra squad practice game to spend more time in the nets. This has flabagasted Anil Kumble. He said, "I'm a bit surprised that India don't have a practice match going into the first Test because that would have been an ideal preparation. No matter how much you practice in the nets, going out in the middle and facing a few bowlers in the match is totally different."
Regardless of the preparation, I believe that this tour will be an uphill battle for India. I tend to believe that India aren't good travellers. I could obviously be wrong. Plus they might still be feeling the scars of the recent whitewash
For the Australians, the only topic that's being debated is who will open the batting. The Steve Smith experiment is over. He will go back to batting at no. 4. There are four main contenders: Marcus Harris; Cameron Bancroft; Nathan McSweeney and Sam Konstas.
Former Australian opener, David Warner, has given his two cents on who should take hs place. He said, "I know there’s been a lot of commentary around Sam Konstas opening the batting. Yes, he is young and he did get those hundreds, the back-to-back hundreds. But I also think that McSweeney batting up top of the order will be a good fit."
Australia coach, Andrew McDonald, is believed to be considering selecting Konstas. He has said, "Any time we're picking a Test team ... we're picking the best team for here and now If that does encompass a younger player, then we'll head down that direction."
"Clearly Sam Konstas on the back of his first Shield match, and the way he went about his work in the second innings at the MCG against Scott Boland has definitely made some noise. If they're ready, they're ready in our mind, and if Sam's capable and we feel as though he's capable to fill that spot, I don't think the opponent should come into the equation."
"You've got to start against someone, and you shouldn't be so-called holding back and protecting someone from a potential opponent.''
Former Aussie captain, Ricky Ponting, has voiced his opinion. He stated, "I was put on the spot about a week ago, and I sort of immediately went to the young guy, Sam Konstas. He had come off back-to-back hundreds against South Australia."
"Then I thought a bit more about it and, he is so young and he has probably not even played on grounds like Optus (Perth) Stadium or at The Gabba [Brisbane]. He wouldn't have played a pink-ball (match) at Adelaide Oval either. So there's a lot of things that stack up against the young guy, although there's no doubt that he's got talent."
Regarding McSweeney, Ponting added, "The only name left for me more or less is Nathan McSweeney, who is Queensland-born now playing for South Australia. He got the most out of any of those guys from the 'A' game in Australia at the moment."
"And he's more experienced. He has captained Australia A in the past, and he's captaining them now. So, I'm leaning towards McSweeney now for that opening role at the start of the Australian summer."
He's under the belief that if they pick either Harris or Bankcroft (because they have Test experience), they would've done it to replace Warner already. He said, "Another thing that I'd said then was that I don't think they'd go back to a Bancroft or Harris because if they're willing to do that they would've done it the last year."
Another captain, Mark Taylor, put forth his choice. He believes that Australia should "roll the dice" and hand Nathan McSweeney a Test debut as an opening batter against India. He said, "I would probably go for McSweeney."
"He's the guy making some runs at the moment. This is often what happens when you have this sort of situation where people call it a 'bat off.' You end up on a green bouncy track in Mackay, and the guys you're looking at are all out for ducks.... But I've said right from the word go, with this selection, I'd like to see the selectors look for youth."
"Pick the best player you think's equipped to face Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammad Siraj, Akash Deep. They're the three guys that are going to test anyone who is picked. So pick the best player equipped to handle those, and if you're not sure who it is, I'd be definitely going for youth. Give them an opportunity. Start reinvigorating this side."
McSweeney helped Australia 'A' beat Ruturaj Gaikwad-led India 'A' by seven wickets in the series opener. In the first innings, he steadied the ship after a top-order collapse. He faced 131 deliveries to score 39 runs before falling to Nitish Kumar Reddy. In the second innings, the 25-year-old remained unbeaten for 88 off 178 deliveries. He shared an unbeaten 141-run partnership for the fourth wicket with Beau Webster (61) to chase down the target of 225.
McSweeney has been in good form. He scored a century in losing cause against Queensland in The Marsh Cup final. In red-ball cricket, he scored two fifties and a century in his last two appearances in the ongoing Sheffield Shield 2024.
Konstas made a strong case for the opening position, scoring a century in each innings for New South Wales during the Sheffield Shield opener against South Australia and followed it up with a gritty 43 in the second match against Victoria.
Although Konstas has yet to make his international debut, he has made a remarkable start to his first-class career. Earlier this year, he contributed to Australia’s success in the U19 Men's Cricket World Cup 2024, being a vital member of the winning team.
If it were up to me, I would pick form over anything else. If there's one thing an opener needs, it's one with form. This is because an opening partnership can often set the tone for the rest of the innings. You don't want to be, for example, 10-1. An early wicket can place pressure on the other batsmen.