India Bowling Hopeless, Melbourne Win Impossible: Sunil Gavaskar
Team India bowlers let Australia off the hook as the hosts recovered from 216 for 5 to post 530 on Day 2 in the third Test at Melbourne.
A dejected Sunil Gavaskar called India's bowling performance in the ongoing third Test in Melbourne as "hopeless." Australia, finished their first innings at 530 after being 216 for five at one stage. Skipper Steven Smith scored a glorious 192. India were 108 for one at stumps on Day 3 on Saturday.(Report | Blog | Scorecard)
"India's bowling was hopeless as they never looked like taking wickets. Whatever wickets they got were gifted to them and not earned," Gavaskar told NDTV.(Ashwin Confident India Can Bounce Back)
Australia resumed at their overnight score of 259 for 5. Yet again, the middle and lower middle order made healthy contributions as Smith, Brad Haddin (55) and Ryan Harris (74) powered the hosts past the 500-run mark.(Smith Can do no Wrong)
"I didn't have any expectations that India could restrict Australia. I had hopes but no realistic expectation," said the 65-year-old Gavaskar.(Warner Fails to Field)
The angry former Test opener was unhappy that the last four Australian wickets plundered 204 runs. Gavaskar suggested that the selectors could try looking at a new set of bowlers as the current lot were not improving while playing away from home.(Dhoni Sets New Record)
"The solution is to look at another set of bowlers, they can't do any worse than the current lot," Gavaskar said.
On being asked if India had any chance of coming back and winning the game, the former skipper preferred not to get carried away.
"You have to be an absolute optimist to believe that India can come back in the match. India have lost out on a golden opportunity to win a Test series in Australia," he added. India are already down 2-0 in the four-Test series.
The only positive Gavaskar highlighted was Murali Vijay's batting. The opener now has four scores over fifty in five innings. He batting on 55 when stumps were drawn with India trailing by 422 runs.
"Murali Vijay's shot selection is admirable as is his patience. One half of the opening problem has been solved," said Gavaskar. Shikhar Dhawan, who opened the innings, was out for 28. Cheteshwar Pujara was batting on 25.