"He doesn’t want to get out there and bat" - Aussie legend opens up on Rohit Sharma’s decision to bowl first in 3rd BGT 2024-25 Test
Former Australian pacer Glenn McGrath was unsurprised by Indian skipper Rohit Sharma's decision to bowl first after winning the toss in the third Border-Gavaskar Trophy Test at Brisbane on December 14. The Aussie legend insisted Rohit's decision may have stemmed out of his unwillingness to have a bat on the opening day.
Since the turn of the 21st century, captains winning the toss have batted first in 16 out of the 24 Tests in Brisbane. Yet, the results haven't reflected domination one way or the other, with the scoreline being 10-9 for the team batting first to bowling first.
Speaking on ABC radio, McGrath said about Rohit's decision (via The Times of India):
"I'm not surprised that Rohit Sharma won the toss and bowled. He doesn't want to get out there and bat. The thing is if you bowl first and it goes pear shaped, that looks really bad in the media. Whereas if you bat first and it goes poorly, it is a 'gutsy decision to bat first."
Unfortunately for Rohit and India, there wasn't much movement on offer despite the overcast conditions.
Australia coasted to 28/0 in 13.2 overs before persistent rain abandoned the final two sessions of the opening day.
"Made a bad choice at the toss" - Matthew Hayden
Former Australian opener Matthew Hayden felt Indian skipper Rohit Sharma made an egregious mistake by electing to bowl first at the toss of the Brisbane Test.
India won the toss in each of the opening two Tests and opted to bat first before reversing the decision after a third consecutive correct call at the toss.
Hayden told the broadcasters after play on Day 1 (via Hindustan Times):
"I’m buying Australia [to win the series]. I’m buying them in this Test match. I’m buying at the toss, the fact that the captain of India, I felt, made a bad choice at the toss. This is a very good batting wicket, batting here is always so damn good in the first three days."
Hayden played all of his domestic cricket for Queensland, with Brisbane being his home ground.
Yet, India can take solace from their last Test outing at the venue in 2021 when Australia batted first but finished on the losing side. Chasing 328 in the final innings, India clinched a thrilling victory by three wickets on the final day to seal a 2-1 series win.