Alastair Cook drowns Marnus Labuschagne; demolishes Australian batsmen after Perth failure vs India

Former England captain Alastair Cook made shocking remarks on the Australian top order after their loss in the first Test match against India. Alastair Cook said that the Australian top order looks vulnerable, with players like Steve Smith and Marnus Labuschagne not performing at their usual standards.

Australia's top order has been under criticism following a string of poor performances. The home team shuffled their batting lineup for the first Test against India in Perth, where they suffered a 295-run loss. Steve Smith returned to No. 4, and Nathan McSweeney made his Test debut for Australia.

There Is An Air Of Uncertainty - Alastair Cook

Talking to TNT Sports, Alastair Cook highlighted concerns about Australia during the ongoing Border-Gavaskar Trophy. He stated that players like Steve Smith and Marnus Labuschagne hadn’t performed well.

“There is an air of uncertainty about their top order, which is unusual. Normally you expect, you know, how many runs has Steve Smith and Marnus Labuschagne has scored against England in the past? I will throw something in there, which is they’re only 1-0 down in a series,” Cook said on TNT Sports.

Australia's struggles were evident in the first Test against India. Nathan McSweeney, who has hardly opened in first-class cricket, scored 17 runs across two innings in the first Test match.

Usman Khawaja managed just 4 and 8 in his two innings. Marnus Labuschagne, who averages 24.50 in 2024, scored just two runs off 52 balls in the first innings and three runs in the second.

India Side Have Certainly Got That Edge - Alastair Cook

Alastair Cook said that India has an advantage over Australia due to their strong bowling attack, led by Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj, against a fragile Australian top order. He said India could capitalize on favorable conditions in Adelaide, particularly during twilight under floodlights.

“They go to Adelaide now, which is a pink ball test match, they’ve got a great record in the pink ball test, and suddenly 1-1 looks very different,” Cook said.

“But I do know this Indian side have certainly got that edge in major parts in terms of Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj in the new ball against a weaker top order against Australia," he added.

“It’s a nice advantage to go and have, and if they get a bit of luck and get those guys bowling with a pink ball under floodlights in that dusk, you know, again, Australia could suddenly be two down in a series, and that’s a long way back.”

I’d Be Worried About The Lack Of Competition - Michael Vaughan

Former England captain Michael Vaughan expressed concerns over Australia's batting lineup, describing it as "brittle." He said that players are not pushing to challenge the spots in the team, which could impact the standards and performance.

“This batting line-up looks brittle, and there’s no one knocking on the door to challenge their spots. If I were an Australian fan, I’d be worried about the lack of competition within the squad,” Vaughan said on Fox Sports.

Australia will lock horns with India in the second Test of the ongoing five-match series at the Adelaide Oval in Adelaide, starting on Friday, December 5.

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