Author: Rasmita Jena

Josh Hazlewood is getting ready to return for the third Test in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy against India, taking place at the Gabba in Brisbane. He missed the pink-ball Test in Adelaide because of a side injury, and many were unsure if he would make it back in time. However, Hazlewood has recovered quicker than expected. On Monday, he was seen bowling strongly at the Adelaide Oval, looking pleased with how he felt. Hazlewood has taken 278 wickets in his Test career so far.

Australia, who tied the series by winning 10 wickets in Adelaide, would greatly benefit from Hazlewood’s presence in Brisbane. Former captain Ricky Ponting prefers Hazlewood over Scott Boland, who performed well in Adelaide. Ponting said, “Even though Boland bowled brilliantly, I would still choose Hazlewood for Brisbane.”

Hazlewood’s history at the Gabba is quite impressive; he has played 8 Tests there, taking 37 wickets with an average of 23.75 and two five-wicket hauls. His return could be crucial, especially since Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma are struggling for runs. After the Adelaide victory, captain Pat Cummins said Hazlewood is on track and just needs to bowl again to check how he feels. If Hazlewood plays, it might mean not all current players can stay in the team, making it tough for whoever has to make space. In Hazlewood’s absence, Boland took five wickets in the Adelaide match, even getting Kohli out in the second innings.

In three out of four innings during the current tour of Australia, the highest-run scorer for India has been Nitish Reddy. It feels odd, but it’s true. Over the last ten innings, India has scored less than 200 runs six times, including a shocking total of just 46 runs. This is a worry, and it’s real.

Since their series against New Zealand in 2021, the average runs for India’s top players in tough countries like South Africa, England, New Zealand, and Australia (known as SENA) has dropped to only 27.94. It’s disappointing, but it’s true.

Despite this, India’s captain, Rohit Sharma, isn’t too scared about their batting problems. “I wouldn’t say worry,” Rohit commented after being asked about the team’s struggles. He admitted that they didn’t bat well in their recent matches but added that they chose to play in tough conditions to improve their skills.

The big question now is whether India’s batsmen can perform well in tough situations or if they only do well when conditions are easy. The team often encounters collapses that lead to defeats.

When India batted first in Adelaide, it seemed like the perfect opportunity. However, they fell short at 180 runs, which Rohit thought was 30-40 runs below what they needed. After that, it became hard for them to comeback. This isn’t just a single game issue; their top-order players haven’t been consistent lately and often need help from bowlers or lower-order batsmen.

The team’s batting averages keep dropping, making it hard to predict how they will perform. They swing between two extremes: great runs like in Perth and very low scores like in Adelaide. There seems to be no middle ground.

Rohit stated, “I am not too worried about this one game. Every player wants to score runs to help the team. Sometimes, despite our best efforts, it just doesn’t work out.”

While the team is putting in a lot of practice, results are what really matter. Rohit believes that they need to improve how they plan and think about the game, especially during Test matches. Every team goes through tough times, but it is important to learn from them.

Former India captain Sunil Gavaskar expressed his disappointment with the team, saying, “You can’t just be in your hotel rooms. You’ve come here to play cricket, so practice even if it’s not all day.” Gavaskar acknowledged that the team was indeed practicing after the match.

Test cricket is changing, and so are the ways to play it. It is still possible to succeed with different playing styles, similar to stars like Rahul Dravid or Cheteshwar Pujara. However, following their strategies could help the current team as they face questions about their performance, especially after the loss in Adelaide. Rohit needs his batsmen to step up and prove they can perform at a high level. It may sound strange, but it’s true.