Former Australia captain Michael Clarke slammed Usman Khawaja for not using his seniority to shield debutant Nathan McSweeney during their second innings of the first Test of the Border-Gavaskar series at the Optus Stadium in Perth. He started from the non-striker’s end,
exposing his batting partner to a dangerous Jasprit Bumrah with the new ball as well. Nathan McSweeney, who scored 10 runs in the first innings before being trapped LBW by Jasprit Bumrah, faced the same fate before opening his account as well.

“A lot of people don’t like taking first ball, so the opening batters rotate. Khawaja took the first ball in the first innings and now they’re saying it’s McSweeney (for the second innings). But I think Uzzie should have said, ‘youngster, get down the other end, even though we’re going to rotate, even though I don’t like taking it, it’s my time’. (He should have said) ‘I’m a senior player. I’m 38 years of age in a week’s time. Listen here, youngster, I know you want to do it (but) get down there. It’s my turn’. I think Uzzie should have owned that moment,” Clarke told Sky Sports’ Big Sports Breakfast (via Yahoo Sports)

After a lot of poor scores by both teams in their first innings, many expected an early finish for the series opener as well. However, the pitch allowed Team India to capitalize and pile misery on the Australian bowlers to build on their lead as well.

“It was like we just expected to knock India over again for not many – there was no intent. They were right in our faces but I didn’t see any of our bowlers give it to any (India) batsmen. Our intent, our energy…it all looked a bit flat for the first Test of the summer,” Michael Clarke concluded.