Ian Chappell has described some of Australia’s selection moves in the ongoing Border-Gavaskar Trophy against India as “head-scratching”. The Australian legend said that, following the same, he is not surprised to see Australia’s struggles in India.
The visitors are 2-0 down in the four-game Test series. They lost the first game at Nagpur by one innings and 132 runs and the second at Delhi by six wickets. Both games were over within three days. The third test of the series begins in Indore on March 1.
Sharing his thoughts on Australia’s disappointing performance in the first two Tests, Chappell questioned many decisions made by selectors. He told ABC Sport:
“The mess they’ve gotten themselves into is not surprising, although some of the selections have been mystifying, to say the least.”
Expressing surprise at the decision to drop in-form batsman Travis Head for the first Test, the former captain said:
“You just don’t drop a guy who has been one of your top scorers in Australia. You find out if he can play in India.”
The legend also questioned the decision to cast Matthew Renshaw as a midfielder despite his failures in India during his previous tour. Renshaw opened with David Warner during Australia’s tour of India in 2017, but had mixed times. Chappell added:
“Batting in the middle order, when you pretty much take on the spin bowling right away, is a lot more difficult than if you can get a few runs on the board off the fast ones and then take on the spin ones.”
TEAM: Glenn Maxwell and Mitch Marsh are set to return to Australian colors for the three-match ODI series against India in March https://t.co/tSePIVUQ0W
Renshaw was sent off for 0 and 2 in Nagpur. He came on as a concussion-caused substitute for Warner in the second innings at Delhi, but was again dismissed by a score in single figures.
“He’s not bowling the best batsmen in Australia” – Chappell on Matt Kuhnemann’s selection
Speaking about the bowlers, Chappell also raised doubts about the decision to bring left-arm spinner Matt Kuhnemann to India and pick him for the Delhi Test. Kuhnemann was called up to the Australian team after Mitch Swepson briefly returned home for the birth of his first child.
Surprisingly, Kuhnemann was chosen ahead of Ashton Agar, who was already in the team but has since returned to Australia. Discussing the surprising move, Chappell opined:
“He’s not bowling for the best batsmen in Australia. So if his Shield record is pretty good, you have to remember that he’s not bowling for the best bowlers. So how do you decide Kuhnemann is ready for India because he’s Is the bowling really good (at Sheffield Shield)?
He continued:
“Now a good selector, and I’m not sure we have any of those at the moment, you can see some things that say to you, ‘I think this guy is ready,’ and you could take a punt, but overall, it’s not. a good system for players or selectors to decide who is ready for test cricket.”
Queensland spinner Matt Kuhnemann receives Baggy Green 466! Congratulations and good luck, Matt! #INDVAU https://t.co/SLvgMannFV
Kuhnemann, 26, claimed 2-72 in the first inning in Delhi and 0-38 in the second.