Delhi Test: Ravi Shastri tells Australia to bring back ‘good old Australian manners’ to bounce back

Ravi Shastri delivered a stern message to the Australian team ahead of the Delhi Test and said that they will have to bring back their ‘good old Australian manners’ in India to bounce back from their defeat in Nagpur.

The visitors were steamrolled by India in the first Test of the ongoing Border-Gavaskar Trophy as the Aussies crumbled in the second innings and were bowled out for just 91.

The lack of ruthlessness in the approach from the Australian team was a surprise to many, including Allan Border, who slammed the batters for showing too much respect to the Indian bowlers.

In his column on the Sydney Morning Herald, Shastri started off by telling the Aussies to bring back their old manners and shed the timid approach. The former India coach urged the visitors to hitback quickly in Delhi, otherwise the series could end in a 3-0 or 4-0 loss to them.

“I want to start off with a strong piece of advice for the Australian team. Save the English manners for the Ashes. What you need are good old Australian manners here in India to bounce back from the defeat in Nagpur.”

I want to see them come out and be their aggressive selves in Delhi. To back their ability and play with intent. I was surprised by the lack of it, especially in that second innings, where they were rolled for 91. If you lose, go down throwing punches. Not in the timid, almost un-Australian, fashion that they surrendered against the Indian spinners at the VCA Stadium.

But the punch has to be thrown immediately, and they need to hit India hard from the very start in Delhi. If Australia don’t get at India right away, the possibility of a 3-0 or even a 4-0 series defeat looms large,” said Shastri.

Shastri also went on to tell Australia to leave their IPL allegiances in the back burner for now and show the hard-hitting Aussie intent in Delhi.

“I would also ask the Aussies to leave their Indian Premier League buddies behind and keep them for later. It felt like there was a bit too much bonhomie on the field in Nagpur for my liking. I want to see that characteristic hard-hitting Aussie intent come to the fore in Delhi,” said Shastri.

“I can say this with confidence: the Indians will be relentless, as they are always in India. This is as good a bowling attack as they’ve ever had, both in terms of the fast bowlers and the spinners. India have never had a spin trio where all three are all-rounders.”

“It’s not all lost for the Aussies though, and they need to tell themselves that. Look yourself in the mirror and realise that you’re not as bad as what transpired on Saturday. It was one day, one session where you messed up.”

Shastri, who was the coach when India were bowled out by Australia in Adelaide for 36, pointed out at the contrast between the two teams and refused to rule out a comeback from the Aussies in the series.

“It is rather like when the Indian team was bowled out for 36 at the Adelaide Oval in 2020. It was understandably one of the more challenging days for me as coach. The only difference, though, was that the Indian team had dominated the first two days of play in Adelaide before that incredible collapse. In Nagpur, Australia had few positives, except the sensational debut for young Todd Murphy.”

Australia will have to bring their A+ game if they have to beat India, or even if they are to threaten India. It’s not impossible, as we showed in Australia two years ago. To go from 36 all out in Adelaide to Boxing Day at the MCG, there’s nothing more intimidating than that. But we prevailed, and beat them soundly at the ’G. So, it’s not impossible.”