IND vs AUS: Allan Border still shocked by Travis Head's exclusion from Nagpur Test

16.02.2023 - 13:05 timesofindia.indiatimes.com

Allan Border is still at pains to understand why middle-order batter Travis Head was excluded from the side that suffered an innings and 132-run defeat against India in the opening Test at Nagpur.Head has been in sublime form since the 2021/22 Ashes series, where he was adjudged Player of the Series after Australia won the five-Test series 4-0.

He was the joint second-highest run-getter during the three-Test series at home against South Africa recently, which Australia won 2-0.But despite achieving several milestones in the past one year, Matt Renshaw got the selectors' nod ahead of Head for the opening Border-Gavaskar Test.

Renshaw couldn't make an impact in Nagpur, getting dismissed for 0 and 2 respectively.Border felt the Australians were "overthinking" their strategy, and decided to drop Head only because of his two mediocre runs during the previous tours of Sri Lanka and Pakistan. "I thought he (Head) must have been crook or injured himself….

I just couldn't believe that Travis Head could be left just on a win that he didn't play very well in India last time or when they were in Sri Lanka," Border said on SEN Radio on Thursday."That's maybe a case, but you're allowed to improve, and Travis Head is one of those players that has improved and he showed that during the summer."Border added the Australians had got their selection for the Nagpur game horribly wrong."I think we overthought some of the stuff, worrying about all little gremlins about the pitch...

bowling Test Cameron Green Mitchell Starc Matt Renshaw Australia South Africa India Sri Lanka Pakistan New Delhi

Read more on the timesofindia.indiatimes.com

Australia need only 76 runs to complete a memorable Test win in India but the wicked nature of the pitch has kept the home team pacer Umesh Yadav hopeful going into day three. Fourteen wickets fell on the opening day while 16 batters got out on Thursday. The pitch is offering plenty of turn and uneven bounce has also made the batters' job harder. Nathan Lyon ran through the Indian batting on day two to end with an eight-wicket haul and put his team within touching distance of a rare win in India. Umesh acknowledged that his team has not put enough runs on the board but it still has an outside chance.

"It Was Mayhem": Ex-Australia Star's Damning Analysis Of Indore Pitch For Third Border-Gavaskar Trophy Test

Former Australia opener Mark Waugh was extremely critical of the pitch in Indore after 14 wickets fell on Day 1 of the third Test encounter between India and Australia on Wednesday. The pitch produced uneven bounce for the players and most of the batters were stunned by the amount of spin on offer for the Aussie bowlers. India were bundled out for just 109 and in response, Australia started well but ended up losing four wickets before the end of day's play. "It was mayhem. The pitch was not up to test standard, I think that's a fair thing to say," Mark Waugh told Fox Sports after the day ended.

Australia's collapse lets India claw back into Indore test

INDORE, India : Australia lost their last six wickets for just 11 runs to concede much of their advantage on day two of the third test against India in Indore on Thursday.

Watch: Virat Kohli Breaks Into Dance On Field During Indore Test, Leaves Fans In Splits

It was a disappointing day on the field for India as the hosts were bundled out for 109 and Australia ended up taking a lead on Day 1 of the third Test match in Indore. The Indian batsmen played rash shots and were unable to deal with the dual bounce of the pitch and except for Shubman Gill and Virat Kohli, not a single batsman was able to breach the 20-run mark. While things were looking grim for Rohit Sharma and Co, Kohli was captured on camera dancing on the field. The star India batter broke into dance suddenly while fielding and Rohit was also seen smiling at his teammates' antics.

Watch: Virat Kohli's Joke Cracks Up Coach Rahul Dravid During 3rd Test

Star India batter Virat Kohli was seen having a fun time with head coach Rahul Dravid on Day 1 of the ongoing third Test against Australia. Kohli, who top-scored for India with his knock of 22, looked positive in his knock, but was undone by Todd Murphy's delivery, which kept low and hit him on the pads. After being dismissed, Kohli was seen having a chat with Dravid, who couldn't control his laughter after seeing the former India captain's antics. The interesting conversation was caught on camera on Day 1.

"Think Everyone Will Support...": Ex-India Star On KL Rahul Getting Dropped From 3rd Test

With India 2-0 up in the series, captain Rohit Sharma won the toss and opted the bat against Australia in the third Test at the Holkar Stadium in Indore on Wednesday. The hosts made two changes, with out-of-form opener KL Rahul losing his place in the playing XI to youngster Shuman Gill. Rahul, who scored just 38 runs in the first two Tests of the series, has been under the scanner as several current and former players had questioned his place in the team. After Rahul was dropped from the team, former India batter Sanjay Manjrekar suggested that the team management made the right decision.