The Australian top and middle-order failed miserably with the bat in the first innings as they ended on 191 for 7 against India on Day 2 of the first Test in Adelaide on Friday. Apart from a gritty half-century from local lad Travis Head (61 not out), all the others disappointed, as no one was able to cross the 50-run mark. Opener Aaron Finch was dismissed on a 3-ball duck in the first over of Ishant Sharma. Former Australian skipper Ricky Ponting, after the day’s play, criticized the Finch for his reckless shot right at the start of the innings.
As per the quotes in cricket.com.au., Ponting said, “The shot we saw today is not what a good Test match opener should do the third ball of the innings. The new ball on that wicket was always going to be the hardest time to bat and he went for a hardcover drive. Sometimes that can happen, but he’s got a lot of work to do, I think.”
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Finch was asked to open for Australia in Tests after his brilliant debut against Pakistan in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) in October. Pointing out the shortcomings of Finch in the longest format, Ponting raised questions about the selectors bringing Finch out as an opener in the Pakistan series and continuing with him in Australia as well.
Talking the same further, Ponting said, “I think this problem has been created by picking him to open in the UAE. It’s the easiest place in the world to be an opening batsman over there, as we know. And he did reasonably well over there which meant … they had to pick him to open the batting coming back here. What was the long-term objective to open the batting with him over there? Everyone knows he struggles a little bit against moving red ball and we have a series here and an Ashes series not too far away, and the ball’s going to move around a lot when we’re over in England.”
At stumps on Day 2, Australia were still 59 runs behind in the first innings with three wickets remaining. For India, Ravichandran Ashwin was the most successful bowler on Day 2, claiming 3 for 50. Ishant Sharma and Jasprit Bumrah managed two wickets each before the close of play.
