SYDNEY: Former captain Allan Border on Sunday slammed Australia A’s lack of fight in the final session of second day’s play in the pink ball warm-up game against India here, calling it an “absolute disgrace”.
Rishabh Pant’s brutal hitting, which was in stark contrast to Hanuma Vihari’s solidity, saw India clobber 170 runs for the loss of just one wicket in the last session. Both got to their hundreds during that phase of the game, with Pant getting it off the day’s final ball after a 22-run over.
“One of the worst, (most) lethargic performances I have seen in the last session of any cricket,” Border said on Fox Cricket.
“This is Australia A, they are representing Australia, they are young blokes trying to make their way. That fielding performance, bowling performance, captaincy performance – an absolute disgrace. Not up to scratch at all.”
The four-match Test series against India starts with the day-night opener in Adelaide from December 17-21.
Australia A though gave a better account of themselves on an eased out third day track on Sunday, despite being reduced to 25 for 3, ending on 305 for 4 riding on Ben McDermott and Jack Wildermuth’s centuries.
Both the batsmen survived a barrage of bouncers under lights from Indian pacers before the match ended in a draw at the Sydney Cricket Ground.
Border, under whose captaincy Australia won their first World Cup in 1987 before entering a period of prolonged dominance, asked any member having problem with his criticism to approach him.
“I’m happy for any of those guys to come talk to me about what was going on yesterday afternoon and stand corrected but very ordinary stuff,” he said. (AGENCIES)
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