Former Indian player Sunil Gavaskar believes Australia are in panic mode after their shocking 295-run defeat to Team India in the first Border-Gavaskar Trophy Test in Perth. Having lost their last four bilateral Test series to India, Australia were expected to win in the first Tests at the Perth Stadium. Now, Josh Hazlewood has also been ruled out with injuries and he stated the question should be thrown at the
batters after their defeat as well.

In his column for Sportstar, Gavaskar felt Hazlewood’s comments and the reactions to Australia’s defeat indicated panic within the team as well.

“The panic in the Australian ranks is palpable, what with former players calling for heads to be chopped off and some even hinting at cracks in the Australian team after Josh Hazlewood’s media interview at the end of the third day’s play, where he suggested that it was up to the batters to now do something,” he said.

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“Now, a few days later, Hazlewood is out of the second Test and possibly the series too with a supposed side strain. Strange, that, since nobody had noticed anything wrong with Hazlewood at that media conference. Mystery, mystery — the like of which used to be common in Indian cricket in the past. Now it’s the Aussies, and like old McDonald, I’m simply loving it,” he shared.

Sunil Gavaskar also lauded young opener Yashasvi Jaiswal for his breathtaking 161 in Team India’s second innings, effectively putting the first Test beyond Australia’s reach as well. In his first international game Down Under, Jaiswal was dismissed for an eight-ball duck in the first innings. However, he scored his fourth Test century in the second innings as well.

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“Yashasvi Jaiswal showed he is a quick learner was evident by the straightness of his bat at the start of the second innings. As he settled down with wonderful guidance from K.L. Rahul at the other end, one could see the Aussie shoulders sagging at the inevitability of another big hundred from this prodigy. Their heads drooped even more as Virat Kohli cashed in on the solid platform set by the opening pair to get another century in Australia,” Gavaskar added in his column.

“The most impressive innings was from Nitish Reddy. He showed an awareness of what was required which belied the fact that he was making his Test debut. Even in the first innings, he displayed a refreshing grasp of scoring opportunities and ended up as the top scorer. His bowling too came in handy, and his fielding was outstanding. Here is a man for the future,” Gavaskar concluded.