Former Australian cricketer Matthew Hayden said that he was surprised by Indian captain Rohit Sharma‘s decision to bowl first in Brisbane.
On December 14, Rohit Sharma won the toss and decided to bowl first in the third match of the Border Gavaskar Trophy. After the toss, he said that he wanted his bowlers to make full use of the overcast conditions.
However, the wicket didn’t behave as Indian captain anticipated, as his bowlers didn’t get get any assistance during the first session. The former opener said that he was suprised with Rohit’s call as heavy rains stopped play in Brisbane.
“I was really surprised that actually, Rohit won the toss and decided to bowl, because I felt like it was over-prepared. I thought it was because of the how much weather.”
Tea has been taken here at The Gabba.
And the waiting game continues.
The umpires will undertake an inspection shortly. #AUSvIND pic.twitter.com/JW3ZVTsG28
— BCCI (@BCCI) December 14, 2024
“There were almost 12 inches of rain in the past two weeks. And so we’ve got this showery pattern and it’s been that way for a month and a bit.”
“So the groundsman would have been thinking, we’ve got to get our preparation in early, and that’s why I thought that it was gonna be as good a batting conditions as you’re gonna see now in these first two days, with the view that it will break up and, and turn,” said Matthew Hayden.
Futher speaking ahead, Hayden mentioned that crack will open up on the pitch after the first few days which will bring spinners into play.
“And we’ve seen some great performances from spinners across the world at this venue and, If we do get decent weather, and that’s the fingers crossed at est because of the reasons I just mentioned, there are cracks in the wicket. Yeah, we just had days of, and in fact, one month of rain,” Matthew Hayden.
“The wicket was quite sluggish early, it will harden up a little bit, assuming that we do get the, the weather that, um, is typical of Queensland weather, which is perfect one day and even more perfect the next,” he added.
Jasprit Bumrah did take some time to find the right line and length for surface while Siraj was being timely taken on by Usman Khwaja. At the time of rain interruption, Australia were at 28/0 in 13.2 overs with McSweeney (4*) and Usman Khawaja (19*) at the crease.
With rain not subsiding, the umpire called in early lunch on day 01 at The Gabba.
