Australia's wicketkeeping great Adam Gilchrist pointed out that Mohammed Siraj and Harshit Rana were not up to the desired level in Adelaide to support fast-bowling spearhead Jasprit Bumrah.
Bumrah, who took eight wickets in India's 295-run win in Perth, took 4/61 in the first innings in Adelaide. Though Siraj took 4-98, his economy rate was four, while Rana, who shined on debut by taking four wickets in Perth, conceded 86 runs without taking a single wicket.
Coming into the series, what India had uncertain about was what a Bumrah support act is. Siraj and Rana did really well in Perth but they just weren't of the same ilk in Adelaide. And that still is glaringly the obvious part of that discussion, Bumrah at this level and the rest not up to it," said Gilchrist on Fox Cricket's The Follow-On podcast on Monday.
He also thinks pacer Josh Hazlewood should be again in the Australian playing eleven, Brisbane, if he feels fully fit after overcoming a side strain that had ruled him out from Australia's ten-wicket win over Adelaide.
"That's the nature of the beast. I would expect if Hazlewood is fit, they'll go back to Hazelwood, particularly at the Gabba. I think that the conditions that will suit him. I mean, either way you go, you know exactly what you get, and that's consistency and an opposing batting order that'll be under threat."
If Hazlewood comes in, then Scott Boland, who took five wickets in Adelaide, makes way for him. Gilchrist feels it's a luxury for Australia to have a good reserve bowler in Boland at their disposal to step up in Tests whenever called upon.
"The time is unfortunate for Scotty, but I just love the way he steps up.". It is like plugging in a ball machine that's got a setting on and it just cranks up again to the identical setting. I love the way the crowd embrace him and broadcasters. He's just a fascinating story, such a humble guy, who by just going about his day at work, he can electrify a nation and 50,000 people in the grandstands.
The intensity in both teams' bowling attacks will be sustained throughout the five-match series currently tied at 1-1, signed off Gilchrist, with the first two Tests in Perth and Adelaide not being played out for entire five days.
"As far as the workload, clearly that works in Australia's favour, but also, the game moves so quickly (that) India didn't exactly have to bowl a mountain of overs either.". Looking at the two games, Australia has bowled more overs, but it's been a nice spread out now, with that extended break between (the) first and second (Tests) and now an extra few days gives them near enough to a week to be ready to go.
"So that's just going to mean the intensity of battle is going to be high quality and continue deeper into the series. By the time we get to Sydney, the bowlers could still well be feeling reasonably not fresh, but certainly not running to the ground. So that all goes well for the series."
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