Ricky Ponting calls out ‘un-Australian’ loss as world reacts to India’s incredible win

Ricky Ponting provided the most damning critique of Australia’s loss in Melbourne as the world raved about India’s comeback.

Ricky Ponting didn’t hold back in his assessment of how Australia played.

It’s back to the drawing board for Australia after India levelled their four-Test series up at 1-1 with an eight-wicket win in Melbourne.

The tourists rebounded from the humiliation of being bowled out for 36 in Adelaide to romp to their eighth win in Australia — and fourth at the MCG — on the back of a dominant display from their bowlers in both innings.

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The hosts’ batting line-up will look a lot different in the third Test as Joe Burns and Travis Head come under pressure to keep their spots, while David Warner and Will Pucovski try to prove their fitness and win a spot in the starting XI.

Australia has yet to pass 200 this series and former captain Ricky Ponting believes a lack of intent from its batsmen — who have been largely unable to rotate the strike because they’ve become bogged down by tight Indian bowling — was a major contributing factor to the defeat in Melbourne.

Ponting pulled no punches, saying it’s not the Australian way to be so passive and believes the batting order must be more aggressive if Justin Langer’s men are to win the Border-Gavaskar trophy.

An attitude adjustment, more than anything, is what’s required according to the cricket legend.

“There’s some soul searching to do. I know Justin Langer will be very disappointed with the output of a lot of the players this week,” Ponting told Channel 7.

“They’ve looked frail, they’ve looked fragile with their batting and they’ve looked tentative.

“We saw Indian batsmen today go out and play hooks and pull shots all afternoon against our bowling attack. I can’t recall through the first two Test matches how many pull shots we’ve played.

“I think we’ve just looked tentative and let the Indian bowlers dictate to us — that’s not the way Australian teams play.

“Expect some personnel change, but I think there might be a bit of a change in the mindset in the way that Australia play their cricket in the third Test as well.”

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Joe Burns is on the chopping block.

WORLD REACTS TO INDIAN MASTERCLASS

India’s crushing win will go down as one of its best for several reasons.

That it came so soon after being rolled for the country’s lowest ever Test total in Adelaide is remarkable enough, but it’s even more special when you consider the team changes.

Captain and best player Virat Kohli flew home for the birth of his child and fast bowler Mohammed Shami was out with a broken arm. Two more players were dropped and four new faces were brought into the side — including two debutants.

Shubman Gill was all class on debut, scoring 45 and 35 not out while Mohammed Siraj was hugely impressive in his first Test, swinging the ball both ways as he snared five wickets for the match.

Newly installed wicketkeeper Rishabh Pant took four catches and scored 29 while all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja scored a crucial half century and chipped in with three handy wickets.

Respected commentator Harsha Bhogle summed up the enormity of the win best.

“This will go down as one of India’s most memorable Test wins,” he tweeted. “Winning a Test in Australia is always special but to do so given the wounds of Adelaide and the absence of key players makes it one for the ages.”

Cricket analyst Ben Jones wrote: “No exaggeration to call that one of India’s best Test wins. Any win in Oz against this attack is impressive; to do it after going 1-0 down, having been bowled out for 36, without Kohli, Ishant, Shami, and with two debutants, is outstanding. Series well and truly alive.”

Kohli also weighed in from home and was full of pride watching stand-in captain Ajinkya Rahane lead India to victory.

“What a win this is, absolutely amazing effort by the whole team,” he wrote on Twitter. “Couldn’t be happier for the boys and specially Jinks who led the team to victory amazingly. Onwards and upwards from here.”

Indian legend VVS Laxman tweeted: “WOW!! Incredible comeback. What a win. Fine display of mental strength and character. Congratulations to each and every member of the squad.

“Lot of positives from this win. Rahane led the side brilliantly, bowlers were relentless but the biggest positive is the performance of two debutants. Both of them were confident and not overawed by the big occasion. Strength of Indian cricket is their strong bench strength.”

Shubman Gill (left) and Ajinkya Rahane were outstanding for India.