Adelaide: Former cricketer-turned-commentator Sunil Gavaskar took a hilarious taunt at India’s poor fielding effort against Australia on Friday (December 18) in Day 2 of Adelaide Test as he said that visitors have been in a Christmas mood while giving away gifts a week earlier than expected.
While Australia caught almost everything that came their way, the Indian fielder have been dreadful on Day 2 when it comes to catching. India handed Marnus Labuschagne two reprieves. Jasprit Bumrah had dropped an easy chance at deep fine-leg just before the dinner break of Mohammed Shami’s bowling. Shortly after that, Bumrah was on the receiving end as Prithvi Shaw put down an easy chance at short mid-wicket.
Gavaskar halfhearted with India’s fielding came up with a gem on air. Watching Shaw drop Labuschagne on 21, Gavaskar felt Christmas had come early for the Indian team. “All I can think of is the Indians are in a Christmas mood. Giving their Christmas gifts a week early,” he said.
"All I can think of is the Indians are in a Christmas mood. Giving their Christmas gifts a week early." – Sunil Gavaskar 😅 #AUSvIND https://t.co/Bh2v9ZtTZP
— 7Cricket (@7Cricket) December 18, 2020
On Day 1 of pink-ball Test, Gavaskar had contemplated in on India’s poor show by opening batsmen Shaw and Mayank Agarwal. Shaw was out for a second-ball duck while Agarwal scored 17, but both batsmen were blameworthy of leaving a big gap between their bat and pad, which allowed the bowlers to exploit it and bowl the batsmen.
“Even today, have a look at where his bat ends. There is such a big gap between bat and pad. Just the second delivery of the game and you want to make sure that you are playing with soft hands. You are playing as late as possible,” former India captain Gavaskar told 7Cricket.
The whole idea in Test match cricket is that you don’t go there. Then you are leaving that much of a gap between bat and pad, allowing for any late movement, either to get an inside edge or snick between bat and pad,” he further said.
“The trick is to try and play as close to the pads as possible, which means your bat speed has to be minimal at the start of the innings. As you grow in confidence, yes then you go and play your shots. But at the start when you are not even off the mark, you want to try and reduce your bat speed. Don’t leave any gap between bat and pad.”
