Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25: What went wrong for Australia in Perth Test? Areas Australia need to work ahead of Adelaide Test.
Before the Perth Test, Australia were deemed favourites to not only win the series against India but also whitewash their opponents. The reason was that India were coming off a humiliating 0-3 whitewash against New Zealand at home. India’s batting was misfiring, bowling was lacking penetration, and their approach to the Test was being questioned. However, another India turned up for the Perth Test, while the Aussies were left battered and bruised.
What went wrong for Australia in the Perth Test? Let’s have a look.
Top-order batting collapses
Australia began the Test in full control, dismissing India for 150. But they lost their way as their top-order batters succumbed to the brilliance of India pacers, led by Jasprit Bumrah. On the first day itself, Australia were reduced to 67/7 on Day 1 in reply to India’s 150. Leading the carnage was stand-in skipper Jasprit Bumrah with a three-wicket haul on the first day. Australia were all out for 104.
Their top-order failed again in the second innings as they were reduced to 17/4 within 6 overs, with Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj picking up two wickets each. In the first innings, the top five batters together made only 31 runs, while in the second innings, they made just 26 runs. The middle-lower order was under the pump straight away and left too much to do in the end in both innings.
Opener Nathan McSweeney was dismissed LBW to Bumrah in both innings, unable to handle the incoming deliveries. Usman Khawaja struggled against the rising balls, edging behind in the first innings and falling to a mistimed pull shot in the second. Marnus Labuschagne’s vulnerability to rising deliveries from good-length areas was exposed, leading to his LBW dismissal in both innings.
Read More: AUS vs IND, 1st Test, Day 4: India beat Australia by comprehensive margin of 295 runs in Perth
Steven Smith’s uncharacteristic shuffle resulted in a golden duck, falling LBW to Bumrah in the first innings, and he was caught behind off Siraj for 17 in the second. Travis Head, who had troubled India in the past, faced challenges in the first innings, with Harshit Rana removing his stumps with a ball that straightened after pitching. Head’s natural counter-attacking style allowed him to score 89 runs in the second innings, but his aggressive approach led to his downfall, edging a delivery from Bumrah to the keeper.
Overall, the top-order’s failure eventually cost Australia the match, as a better batting performance in the first innings could have seen them make a match out of it. Aussie bowler Josh Hazlewood didn’t hesitate to point fingers at the batters for their poor show at Perth. When asked about Australia’s approach on the fourth day, he said, “You probably have to ask one of the batters that question. I’m sort of relaxing and trying to get a bit of physio and a bit of treatment, and I’m probably looking mostly towards the next Test and what plans we can do against these batters.” It sparked rumours that all was not well in the Australia camp, and the crack was beginning to show.
Read More: BGT 2024-25: With Rohit back at the helm in Adelaide, how would things change for India?
Inconsistent bowling display
Australia bowled well in tandem in the first innings to dismiss India for 150. But they could not repeat the same heroics in the second innings. Australia captain Pat Cummins, who didn’t have any red-ball practice before the series, was the worst Aussie bowler in Perth, as he went for 143 runs in about 40 overs for three wickets. Mitchell Starc bowled well but in patches and was not consistent with his line and length. He failed to sustain the pressure on the India batters in the second innings.
Hazlewood was the best Aussie bowler among the lot, but he lacked support from the other bowlers. Hazlewood took five wickets, conceding 57 runs in 34 overs. But the pressure created by Hazlewood was easily negated by undisciplined bowling from other bowlers, especially in India’s second innings. Eventually, the Aussie shoulders dropped and just went through the motions, waiting for the innings declaration to end their misery. Australia have to get their bowling sorted as India have their tails up with a win at Perth.
Cummins’ captaincy misfired
Cummins had a forgettable Test as captain as he struggled to get his bowling changes right. Being the leader of the bowling pack, Cummins himself was undercooked and didn’t look ready for the Test match. Cummins also promoted himself to No. 3 in the second innings as a nightwatchman but fell soon thereafter. His captaincy moves were uncertain, as his changes and gambles didn’t pay off.
Australia would be hurting now after the loss at Perth. They would have to get back to drawing boards and make plans for each India batter. As far as batting is concerned, practising incoming and rising deliveries is a must to find their groove.
Read More: BGT 2024-25: Bumrah bowled with brilliance & captained with craft in Perth
