With a poor-batting performance in the Second Test, it looks like that Australian batting cannot sink deeper. Former English batsman Geoffery Boycott criticised them by saying, “If Bangladesh had been bowled out for 128 like Australia were, people would be saying they are pathetic and shouldn't be playing Test cricket.” To eco his voice was former Australian pacer Glenn McGrath, who is sick and tired of such a lame batting performance.
Australia is now 0-2 down in this series and sudden turnaround for Australia is something not on the cards. Joe Root was the show stopper in this Test match as he scored 180 runs. Moreso he frustrated the bowlers with his water-tight defence. Meanwhile the reports in The Hindu quoted McGrath saying, "It was a horror day for Australia. It was probably even worse than Friday," McGrath, a member of BBC Radio's Test Match Special commentary team, said.
England were 172 for four -- a lead of 405 runs - when the new ball was made available after 80 overs but decision of not going with the new-ball surely surprised even MsGrath. "England saw them off early on and then the runs starting to tick over as the day wore on. I am curious why Australia didn't take the new ball, run in hard and have a red-hot go at England to show they won't lie down," he said.
"It became too easy at times. Nothing shy of a miracle can save them (Australia) from here."
Meanwhile Geoffrey Boycott praised Joe Root for his stupendous knock and also slammed Michael Clarke for his poor captaincy. He was quoted by Hindustan Times saying, "Joe Root is a modern player who has been raised on Twenty20 cricket. The reverse sweep is part of his game but players like myself and Colin Cowdrey didn't even know that shot existed. It never crossed our minds to play it."
He added, "Ashton Agar is very ordinary. He has got talent but he's not ready for Test cricket yet. On the other hand, I found Steve Smith is useful and will take wickets and score runs but to have them both bowling at the end was like going to a carvery. It was help yourself."
Boycott didn’t mind taking a dig at Australia's batsmen as he said, "If Bangladesh had been bowled out for 128 like Australia were, people would be saying they are pathetic and shouldn't be playing Test cricket."