Australia’s bowling unit lashed after ignoring captain’s orders

Details have emerged of bowling coach David Saker dishing out an explosive spray to his rogue bowling unit as Australia was pounded towards the humiliating reality of a historic series loss to India.

Australia's fast bowling unit went rogue on day one of the fourth Test. Picture: Phil Hillyard

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Details have emerged of bowling coach David Saker dishing out an explosive dressing room spray as Australia was pounded further towards the humiliating reality of a historic series loss to India.

The Australian assistant admitted he gave the underperforming bowlers a paint-peeling bake after day one, and he also claimed members of the attack had a clash of opinions with Tim Paine on the field over bowling plans – although that has been denied by the captain.

If the “animated” post-play dressing down was designed to cattle-prod Australia into action on day two, it fell depressingly flat, and left Paine to take the unusual step of fronting a post-play press conference mid-Test in a bid to try and take the heat off his bowlers.

Australia's fast bowling unit went rogue on day one of the fourth Test. Picture: Phil Hillyard

Indian master Cheteshwar Pujara (193 off 373 balls) picked up from where he left off to join with Rishabh Pant (159 not out) in punishing the home side into submission as India declared at 7-622, although Pant dropped a catch to let Usman Khawaja off the hook as Australia clung to the one positive of being 0-24 at stumps.

But that was only after India enacted the mercy rule when part-time batsman Ravi Jadeja was out for 81. The piling on of another 319 runs for the loss of only three wickets all but guaranteed they can’t be beaten in the fourth Test and therefore will emerge series victors for the first ever time on Australian soil.

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“(On night one) we talked quite heavily about the day, more because we thought it was a really disappointing day and we just wanted to get our point across,” a brutally honest Saker told ABC Grandstand.

“Some of it was quite aggressive and that’s not like me usually.

“I was quite animated, and I know I was not the only one. The bowlers know that.”

Tim Paine (R) talks with Mitchell Starc on day two of the fourth Test. Picture: AFP

Spinner Nathan Lyon – who also chose to publicly express his displeasure at Australia’s bowling plans on the opening day – was forced to send down the most overs he’s ever bowled in a Test innings, after the declaration was called midway through his 57th.

Lyon’s back-breaking and soul-destroying 4-178 – was the sixth most runs conceded in an innings ever in Australia.

Pat Cummins went wicketless at 0-101 and Mitchell Starc (1-123) and Josh Hazlewood (2-105) were also taken to the cleaners for unwanted hundreds, but not before they’d already been served up the rounds of the kitchen from Langer and Saker.

Saker made the frank claim that bowlers had not been on the same page as captain Paine.

“I think the bowlers wanted one thing, Tim wanted one thing,” said Saker.

“That’s not been the case as the general rule but when you were watching from the sideline you could see there was some confusion.”

Paine denied that assertion from his assistant coach but admitted there was an urgent need for some searing self-examination, even with three days still left in the match.

His strong decision to front the press conference was reminiscent of Michael Clarke fronting up after Australia was bowled out for 47 in Cape Town back in 2011.

Bowling coach David Saker revealed details of the dressing down. Picture: Getty

“We always have discussion post game but in terms of being on a different page, no,” said Paine.

“When you’re playing sport at the highest level and you don’t perform as well as you should you’re going to cop criticism.

“There’s no point shying away from it and making excuses. We know we’ve come up short with the ball in the past two Test matches.

“We’re going to cop criticism for it, we’ve to get better.

“We’ve got to be honest about it and we need to be honest before you can get better.

“We’re aware of it. We’re not hiding from it.”

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