India vs Australia | Shane Warne lashes out at Australian bowling department

The Australian cricket team succumbed to an embarrassing 131-run loss in the third Test match at the MCG as the Indian bowlers wreaked havoc to dismantle the Australian batting line-up. The Australian bowling department, which has been praised throughout the course of the series, failed to replicate their Indian counterparts as far as the number of wickets is concerned.

Legendary leg-spinner Shane Warne lashed out at the Australian bowling department as he highlighted how they have been ineffective against the top six batsmen in the ongoing series. 

“The opposition number 1-6 batsmen when are bowling has Mitchell Starc with 17 wickets in [the last] 10 Test matches at 47. Josh Hazlewood has 18 wickets at 40. Nathan Lyon 29 wickets at 43. Pat Cummins 30 wickets at 23. So if you lose a toss and the opposition decide to bat and you have to try and knock them over, [Australia’s] new-ball bowlers in Starc and Hazlewood are averaging 47 and 40 with a new ball – that’s not good enough,” Warne told news.com.au.

Warne, who has a massive tally of 708 wickets from 145 Test matches, was quick to suggest that the under-performing Australian bowlers are putting additional pressure on the Australian batting line-up. Australia’s highest total in the India Test series after the first three matches is 326. Justin Langer’s boys have crossed 300 only once in six innings.

“At times when the bowlers have done well and knocked a side over, Australia have actually made over 300 in the first innings. But when the opposition have made 346, 488, 482, 443, 386 – and I could keep going – in their first innings, that puts a lot of scoreboard pressure on [Australia’s] batsmen. The pressure is on to come out and make a decent score to try and not give up a big lead,” Warne added.