‘Savagely manhandled’: Australia in disbelief over first Test annihilation

The Australian public has been left in disbelief by the way our all-conquering cricket team was humiliated in the first Test against India.

A comprehensive first Test beat down at the hands of India has raised a mountain of questions after Australia’s shock 295-run capitulation to kick off the summer.

Other than the first session and a half of the first day when the Australian quicks steamrolled the visitors, it’s been all India in Perth as the Aussies were humbled like rarely before on home soil.

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Heading into the match, the Aussies were talking up their preparations, despite only finishing a pair of three-match ODI and T20I series against Pakistan last Monday.

Captain Pat Cummins himself said he was well-rested after an eight-week break at home from August, playing just a one-day domestic match for NSW and two ODIs against Pakistan before the summer kicked off.

A week later, the side is 1-0 down against an Indian team whose last series was a historic 3-0 loss on to New Zealand on home soil earlier this month — the first time India had ever suffered a clean-sweep in a three-match series at home.

But after not holding the Border-Gavaskar Trophy since 2014-15, Australia have come into this match seemingly well under done and were exposed by India’s quicks, in particular captain Jasprit Bumrah.

While the match finished on Day 4, it was really just waiting for the inevitable after a brutally one-sided Day 3.

Starting the day on 0/172, India put Australia to the sword, declaring at 6/487 with Yashasvi Jaiswal plundering 161, while Virat Kohli brought up yet another hundred.

In stark contrast, an hope Australia may have had was dashed as the hosts were left in disarray at 3/12 at stumps.

Nathan McSweeney found out just how hard Test cricket is. Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images

Travis Head’s 89 was a lone hand for Australia. Photo by Robert Cianflone/Getty Images

It laid bare the horrific stat that Australia’s top four batters contributed just 29 runs across both innings — the worst ever performance across the top four in Australia’s 147-year history in Test cricket.

Speaking on SEN, Gerard Whateley called the farcical scenes “the worst day on home soil since the national batting crisis of Hobart 2016”.

That game was an innings and 80 run loss to South Africa where Australia were bundled out for 85 and 161, while the Proteas tallied 326.

“When this happens at home it’s not an isolated event,” Whateley said.

“Australia was embarrassed by India under the blazing Perth sun. The home side batted into oblivion like rarely before.

“Left to resort to half-cocked plans and banal tactics as the helplessness took hold.

“Then, as Australia has done to so many broken opponents, the batters were marched to the gallows at dusk and brutally sawn off. The symbolism was everywhere you looked.

“India had both the chosen one and the reigning deity stand in blazing triumph. Yashasvi Jaiswal batted as if he were fulfilling a prophecy. Virat Kohli showed he was not one to hand over torches. Not for now at least.

“They revelled in each other’s dominance and their opponents quaked at their might.

“Australia employed Manus Labuschagne as its enforcer – the absurdity of which had to be seen to be believed.”

Marnus had a shocker in the second innings. Picture: FOX

Maybe Marnus should focus on his batting. Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images

Whateley argued that it wasn’t just two days of mediocrity, but arguably “a tendency to rationalise diminished returns out of existence rather than acknowledge the warning signs”.

After the demolition was complete, speaking on Fox Cricket, Adam Gilchrist said: “Australia can lose at home, but not be dominated in such commanding fashion.”

It spoke to the sense of disbelief from the Australian cricket public from the disastrous display.

SEN producer John Donohoe posted: “We waited 6 months for Test cricket and we get this… I’ve been telling people for ages, this Aussie team isn’t as good as people think.

“Captain Pat is picking his mates, without consequence. Something’s gotta give. This has been the worst Test performance from Australia.

“There is a massive depth issue. I do feel that Pat runs the show, and is hesitant to leave any of his best buddies out.

“Yes, they are the best bowlers in the country, but they are so pig headed in changing things, it does my head in.”

Nine commentator Mat Thompson commented: “The most underprepared Australian team I can remember. The disregard for red ball lead up cricket is ignorant and arrogant and it’s showing to be so.”

The Daily Telegraph’s Dean Ritchie commented: “Cannot ever recall Australia being so savagely manhandled in a home cricket Test.”

And that is just the tip of the iceberg as Aussie cricket fans come to terms with the absolute drubbing.

While India potentially have the likes of Rohit Sharma and Mohammad Shami returning for the second Test in Adelaide which can only strengthen the side, there is one bright side — there are still four matches left in the series.

India are one step closer to retaining the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. Photo by SAEED KHAN / AFP

There will be questions about the age of the players, about the performances of Marnus Labuschagne and Steve Smith in particular, and dissecting the tactics that saw one of the worst performances on home soil in some time.

Former Aussie great Ian Healy said while he had the same concerns as the rest of Australia, the series was a long way from over.

“It’s a one-off disaster at this stage,” Healy told SEN 1170 Breakfast. “We have been exposed for not having any match toughness or hardness.

“The Australians had two weeks to practice and freshen up (so) they should be better next Test.

“I’m also not sure about the rotations of our bowlers. I don’t think we handled that either.

“They are fresh so there are absolutely no excuses here. India were just as underdone as we were but they’ve played better.

“I would wait one more Test (before making any selections). I’m just glad the Sydney rugby league media aren’t commenting on the cricket.

“If they’re still shaky and if certain individuals are still shaky in their roles, I think there will be changes.”

Australia do have some time to regroup with the second Test not starting until December 6 with a day/night match at Adelaide Oval.