BGT 2024-25: Sunil Gavaskar Highlights Apparent Anxiety Within Australian Team

New Delhi, Dec 2 (NationPress) Legendary cricketer Sunil Gavaskar perceives a distinct sense of anxiety within the Australian team, as illustrated by Josh Hazlewood’s remarks after their significant loss to India by 295 runs in the inaugural Test held at Perth.

This substantial defeat places Australia at a 1-0 disadvantage in the five-match series, with the next match, a pink-ball contest, scheduled for Adelaide on December 6. "The anxiety within the Australian ranks is quite palpable, especially with former players advocating for drastic changes and speculating about fractures within the team after Hazlewood’s media comments post the third day’s play, where he implied it was now the batters’ responsibility to step up.

"Interestingly, just a few days later, Hazlewood has been ruled out of the second Test, and quite possibly the entire series, due to a supposed side strain. It’s peculiar, considering there were no visible signs of injury during his media appearance. It’s a mystery reminiscent of past intrigues in Indian cricket. Now, it’s the Australians facing such conundrums, and like Old McDonald, I’m thoroughly enjoying it," Gavaskar penned in his column for Sportstar on Monday.

He further praised young left-handed opener Yashasvi Jaiswal for his remarkable 161 runs in the second innings, noting how he swiftly adapted to excel in Perth after a disappointing first innings where he was dismissed for an eight-ball duck.

"The young Yashasvi Jaiswal displayed his ability to learn quickly, evident in the straightness of his bat at the start of the second innings. As he settled in with exceptional guidance from K.L. Rahul at the other end, one could observe the Aussie shoulders drooping under the inevitability of another significant century from this prodigy. Their heads sank further as Virat Kohli capitalized on the solid foundation laid by the opening pair to score another century in Australia.

Simultaneously, Gavaskar commended all-rounder Nitish Reddy for displaying remarkable temperament with the bat in Perth, where he scored 47 and 38 not out, in addition to taking a wicket. "These two centuries were outstanding, as was the 200-plus opening partnership, but the most impressive innings came from Nitish Reddy.

"He demonstrated an understanding of what was needed, which was surprising given it was his Test debut. Even in the first innings, he showcased a refreshing awareness of scoring opportunities, ultimately becoming the top scorer. His bowling was also valuable, and his fielding was exceptional. This is certainly a man for the future.

Gavaskar concluded by expressing his profound gratitude for witnessing the Perth Test victory in person and praised stand-in captain Jasprit Bumrah for his remarkable eight-wicket haul that led India to a convincing win.

"What a magnificent victory, certainly one of the best matches I have been privileged to attend. All the claims about the pitch being fast and bouncy to scare off the Indian batters were merely bravado. It wasn’t the Aussie players but rather their support staff in the media, both electronic and print, who were spreading fear.

"This time, India heads to Adelaide, having once again confounded the experts in Perth with a performance that ranks among the top ten victories in recent history. Jasprit Bumrah led the attack with a bowling performance that would challenge the greatest batters across eras.

"He was consistently on the mark, making it difficult for batters to relax as he posed uncomfortable questions regularly. While Bumrah certainly benefitted from the pitch, the manner in which the batters played on an unfamiliar surface was incredibly heartening.