Loss To India At Home Dented Egos And Threatened Positions Of Players - Former Head Coach John Buchanan

Former Australian two-time World Cup-winning head coach, John Buchanan, made stunning revelations about the situation in the Australian team after the loss to India in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2020-21.

India played with a squad missing first-team players lost to injury and various reasons but still managed to beat a full-strength Australian team in their own backyard. The 2-1 series victory is perhaps the greatest series win in history and it also affected the dressing room of the Baggy Greens.

“There’s little doubt that the loss to India at home hurt the team, dented egos, and threatened positions of players and support staff. But turning a team around takes time, and it takes some painful lessons as well.”

“Some of their selections on this tour so far seem ludicrous” – John Buchanan on England team

England has already lost the Ashes after losing humiliatingly in the first three Tests. Their batters have been downright horrible apart from Joe Root and Dawid Malan. Their much-vaunted pace attack has also let them down on multiple occasions.

“England have been woeful, although a quick look at their results in the longest format over the past two-three years will reveal that they are not a good side. They rely heavily on (Joe) Root, (Ben) Stokes, (James) Anderson, and (Stuart) Broad.”

“They have no opening combination with a fragile middle order, and so choose (Jos) Buttler and (Jonny) Bairstow rather than (Ben) Foakes who is the best wicketkeeper. Besides, their bowling attack needs conditions in its favour in order to look dangerous. Some of their selections on this tour so far seem ludicrous.

“For instance, the decision to not play Anderson and Broad in Brisbane in bowler-friendly conditions. And you do that in the first Test of a series?” Buchanan further wrote.

The visitors have shown some sight in the fourth Test with Jonny Bairstow registering a century on Day 3 of the SCG Test.

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