‘They need to see the error in their ways’ – Former Australia cricketer’s bold statement on India after losing the 3rd BGT Test

As Australia outperformed India in the Indore Test and won the third Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, the Australian legend, Ian Chappell criticized India for preparing rank-turners. Chappell said that despite Australia consciously thinking at home and developing rank-turners to take advantage, India defeated Australia on their last two trips to Australia on bouncy tracks.

Stand-in skipper Steve Smith made some bold decisions in the field to trap the Indian batters. Australia comprehensively outperformed the hosts in all three categories, thanks to their excellent adaptability to Indore’s challenging pitch. Chappell opined that the Australians had begun making up for the mistakes they made in the first two games and that it is now time for India to follow the same.

The key to it in my opinion was bowling India out cheaply in the first innings: Ian Chappell

“That was ridiculous (on dropping Head in Nagpur Test). It was a non-selection stupidity that was. At least the Australians have seen the error in their ways. India needs to see the error in their ways. Talking about trying to prepare pitches that suit India. Have India forgotten that they won the last two Test series in Australia? What the hell the administrators, players, coaches, anybody outside the curator (were doing?). What the hell are they having an input into the pitch for?” Chappell was quoted as saying on ESPNcricinfo.

He went on to discuss Australia’s success in Indore and how Smith and his team were able to dominate the game thanks to their first-innings advantage. “The key to it in my opinion was bowling India out cheaply in the first innings. Once they did that, they got themselves a chance to a decent lead. It wasn’t a huge lead but on this pitch a pretty useful one. And then in the second innings only having to chase a low score,” the Australian legend asserted.

He asserted that Travis Head‘s attacking approach made the target easy to chase for the visitors. “I think having lost an early wicket. Once Australia and Head in particular decided to attack in the second innings. That’s when they ran away with the game,” the 79-year-old concluded.