Rohit Sharma's Wicket Before The End Of The Play Was Very Handy: Andrew McDonald

Australian assistant coach Andrew McDonald has said that getting the wicket of Indian opener Rohit Sharma was a huge shot in the arm for the home side.

Rohit Sharma was looking in imperious touch during the course of his 74-ball 44. Sharma stroked some breathtaking shots during his innings, none better than the check drive that he stroked off Josh Hazlewood.

However, just as it looked like Sharma was warming up for a daddy hundred, he once again gave away his wicket cheaply as he holed out to Mitchell Starc at deep midwicket, in an attempt to hit Nathan Lyon across the line.

McDonald, as expected, was chuffed to bits with the lucky break of Rohit Sharma. He, however, said the Australian bowlers will have to be patient as they aim to bowl Indian batsmen out in the first innings.

“So far, I think it is pretty even to be fair. India 62/2, I think getting Rohit Sharma before the end of the play was very handy. We added 100 runs more today, could have been more but 350 plus score on the first innings at the Gabba is not the bad score. We got some runs on the board but a lot of work to do as a lot of quality batsmen are in the opposition,” Andrew McDonald said in the virtual press-conference.

“I don’t think it is going to be a rush from us. As you know when you are bowling, you can’t speed up the game anyway. It is all about the process, delivering the right balls in the right areas and keeping it as simple as that. It is enough to roll them for a low score. As it stands at the moment, very little we can do to accelerate the game. They got some quality batters and it will take quality effort to bowl out them in the first innings,” he added.

 

Former cricketers slam Rohit Sharma on his untimely dismissal

Meanwhile, Rohit Sharma has come in for heavy criticism post his untimely dismissal by fans as well as former cricketers, including Deep Dasgupta and veteran opener Sunil Gavaskar.

“Only Rohit can explain why that shot? He has the temperament because he has scored big in India. Maybe in overseas conditions, he hasn’t scored big. This is frustrating,” Deep Dasgupta told Sports Today.

“Why? Why? Why? That’s an unbelievable shot. That’s an irresponsible shot. There is a fielder there at long oo, there is a fielder there at deep square leg,” Sunil Gavaskar told Channel 07.

Rohit Sharma, though, has no regrets over the stroke that led to his demise. Speaking to the media via virtual press-conference, the flamboyant opener said that his job in the team is to put pressure on the opposition bowlers and he was doing just that when ye got out.

Also Read: I Have No Regret Of Playing That Shot Off Nathan Lyon: Rohit Sharma