Former Australia batter Matthew Hayden slammed Team India after their forgetful Day 1 in the ongoing ICC World Test Championship (WTC) final against Australia at The Oval in London. After winning the toss and opting to bowl first, India got off to a promising start, taking three wickets in quick succession. However, Travis Head and Steve Smith stitched a remarkable partnership of 251* off 370 balls as Australia scored 327 runs to gain momentum on Day 1.
When asked about Team India’s performance on the first day, former Australian opener Hayden criticised Rohit and his teammates for failing to show up on the first day of the showpiece event. The 51-year-old said it’s pointless to beat your chest during the national anthem. He further remarked that India lacked energy after opting to bowl first in the summit clash of the WTC.
“There’s no point beating your chest at the national anthem or the Australians beating their chest at the national anthem. You beat your chest out at the center. There wasn’t enough energy yesterday from India. When Australia dominated, they’re going to get dominated again with this partnership if they don’t turn up and hunt us a pack,” Hayden told Star Sports.
Hayden went on to say that the great sides of team India used to stick to a plan and hunt like a pack. He also stated that if India do not turn up on the second day, they’re going to get owned during the first session. He further added that from Australia’s perspective, they will just dominate this Test match.
“The great sides of India used to do exactly that. Stick to a plan and hunt like a pack. From the Australian point of view, much of the same. If India don’t turn up today, continue to bowl short, and back of the lengths. Continue to get cut, go over the top of the third man, then they’re going to get owned during the first session. They get owned in the first session, then from Australia’s point of view, they’re just going to boss this Test match. It is going to slip away so quickly. So runs have to be hard to come by,” the former Australian cricketer added.