Michael Clarke, a former captain of Australia, has made a very strong declaration about team India, claiming that India may easily overcome Australia by an innings if they manage to score between 280 and 300 runs in their opening at-bat.
India outperformed Australia on Day 1 of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2023 in nearly every category, first unsettling them with the ball and then setting their innings with the bat.
They might not need to bat once more: Steven Clarke
The 41-year-old stated on Big Sports Breakfast, “If India score 280 to 300, man, they might not have to bat again.”
According to the former right-handed batsman, it is already difficult to see defeating India in that country, and given how they ended Day 1 of the first Test, there is a good chance they might end up losing the match by an innings if they can bat through it and score between 280 and 300 runs.
I understand that we don’t have many runs and it’s a difficult one for Patty to work with; so, he is attempting to provide some protection for his bowlers, but you want the batter to try and take a chance. You want them to make an effort, take a chance, and make that shot. Fair play, put him back if they manage to hit one or two over the top. But in this case, he simply needs to use incredibly clever strategy. India might not need to bat again if they score 280 to 300, said Clarke.
During the proceedings on Day 1, Clarke also expressed his extreme surprise and disgust at the tactics used by Australia’s current Test captain, Pat Cummins. He said that while Nathan Lyon and Todd Murphy were bowling, he was astounded by Cummins’ field placements. Additionally, he was really dissatisfied in how Australia batted against the Indian bowlers.
He asserted that the only way the Kangaroos could even contemplate regaining control of the match was by capturing every India wicket at a low total.
“I get that they only have 177 runs on the board, but you still need to try and get wickets. The strategies Pat Cummins used yesterday caught me off guard. Every ball Todd Murphy and Nathan Lyon bowled had a long-on from him. For them to attempt to knock one over mid-head on’s if the ball is spinning as you suspect it is going to, brings in an inside edge to mid-wicket, brings in stumped, brings in bowled, brings in caught bat-pad, he said.
