Team India faced a massive defeat in the second Test at Adelaide as Australia cruised to a dominant 10-wicket win. The hosts’ commanding performance left India reeling, with both their batting and bowling units failing to deliver. India now face a steep challenge in the ongoing series after this heavy defeat. The Indian side’s poor show in Adelaide has raised serious questions about their preparations and strategies for the remaining Tests.
Morne Morkel highlights key mistakes by Indian bowlers
Following the loss, India’s bowling coach Morne Morkel reflected on the bowlers’ performance in the match, comparing it to their solid display in the first Test. He pointed out that during the first Test, India’s bowlers executed their plans with great precision, consistently hitting the right lines and lengths. This discipline was considered the blueprint for their strategy moving forward in the series. The bowlers aimed to target the stumps as much as possible, creating pressure by forcing the Australian batters to play at deliveries and increasing the likelihood of wickets. This approach had worked well in the first Test, making it the model for their tactics in subsequent games.
Also READ: 3 key reasons behind Team India’s defeat in the Pink Ball Test against Australia
However, Morkel highlighted that in the second Test, the bowlers deviated from this plan. Despite the ball moving around in the conditions, India’s bowlers were not able to consistently hit the right length or maintain tight lines. Morkel reckoned out that the bowlers were often too wide, allowing the Australian batters to leave the ball comfortably. By missing the correct length and not bringing the stumps into play consistently, India failed to apply the same level of pressure on the Australian batters, which allowed them to settle in and build significant partnerships. This lapse in execution contributed to India’s inability to break through and control the game.
“If I wind my clock to the first Test match, our lines and lengths were exceptional. It was sort of the blueprint for us going into this Test series. We wanted bring the stumps into play as much as possible and I thought last night with the ball moving around a little bit, we missed that. We were slightly off the mark with finding the right sort of length and at times, we were a touch wide. Allowed the guys to leave a lot of balls. That was a learning,” said Morkel at the presser.
Focus shifts to upcoming Gabba Test
With the series now at a crucial juncture, all eyes will turn to the upcoming Gabba Test, where India will need to come out strong to stay alive in the series. After a humiliating loss in Adelaide, the team must focus on addressing their mistakes, especially in their bowling approach. The Gabba, known for its bouncy wicket, is likely to present fresh challenges, and India’s bowlers must adapt their plans accordingly to counter Australia’s formidable batting lineup.
