Adelaide disaster will test mental strength of Indian batsmen: Mike Hussey

Tags: India tour of Australia, 2020-21, Australia, India

Published on: Dec 22, 2020

Former Australian batsman Michael Hussey has said that the Indian cricket team will be embarrassed with their performance in the Adelaide Test, in which they were all out for 36, and should look to fightback strongly.

Hussey, however, feels that they would have to be mentally very strong to make a comeback in the series from here onwards.

“It’s really going to test the mental strength of the Indian batsmen in my opinion. I think the Melbourne pitch will suit them a little bit more so they can take some confidence from that. I hope to see a response because they’ll be embarrassed by that – getting bowled out for 36.

"I was in a team when we were bowled out for 47 and it was embarrassing. You’d want to put up a better performance next up. But I think there will be some psychological blows there,” Hussey said on ESPNCricinfo.

With Virat Kohli on paternity leave and Mohammed Shami also ruled out due to injury, India will have their task cut out for the remainder of the series. Hussey agrees the two will be sorely missed.

“It’s a bit of a hammer blow. The last time India were here, they’d won the first Test match and it just really game them a lot of belief and confidence that they could win here in Australia. Suddenly they go 0-1 down, their captain heads home. Mohammed Shami being hit on the arm – now we’re not sure how bad that is – he’s one of the best bowlers in the Indian camp. I think the confidence would have really taken a hit and there’ll be a few doubts in mind,” Hussey added.

According to the Aussie legend, stand-in skipper Ajinkya Rahane and head coach Ravi Shastri must ensure that the team overcomes all the negativity they have been dished out in the last few days.

“It’s very important for the likes of Shastri and Rahane, who is a now the captain, to get around the group and kick in a positive frame of mind. They can bounce back. These guys are all quality players, they have done the business in the past but a lot of it is played between the ears. If they can, I still believe there’s a chance for India in the series,” Hussey concluded.

Having taken a first-innings lead in the first Test, India looked set to consolidate their position on Day 3 at Adelaide. However, they crumbled inexplicably to be all out for 36.

Set a target of 90, Australia got home by eight wickets as Joe Burns struck form with an unbeaten fifty.

--By A Cricket Correspondent

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