"Playing with the weather is like playing with fire" - Former player blasts Australia for not declaring in BGT 2024-25 3rd Test
Former Australia opening batter Matthew Hayden lambasted Pat Cummins' decision to continue batting on Day 3 (Monday, December 16) of the third Border-Gavaskar series Test at The Gabba in Brisbane. After the opening day was washed out with minimal action, the hosts had raced off to 405-7 at Stumps on Day 2.
With inclement weather predicted for the remainder of the Test as well, many expected either a late declaration on Day 2 or on the overnight score. However, the unbeaten pair of Alex Carey and Mitchell Starc turned up to resume proceedings on Monday.
Australia batted for a little over an hour on Day 3, 16.1 overs to be precise, before being bowled out for 445. The Men in Yellow added 40 runs to the overnight score to end with a mammoth figure.
A couple of rain spells have marred the day's play so far, leading Hayden to question why the declaration was not made. He told Channel 7 (via Yahoo Sports):
"I sense that playing with the weather is like playing with fire. You've just got to focus on winning the Test match from an Australian point of view. India may be focusing at this point now on just trying to hold in this Test match. It begs the question, what would India want? I sense that this is maybe playing into their hands considering there is going to be some weather over the next few days."
Hayden also labeled the current Australian unit as a conservative side following their decision to play it safe in this particular scenario.
"Less likely for Australia to get the ball and take 20 wickets, the better for them. But I'm not surprised, this side over the years has been relatively conservative and it has perhaps stung from the days of Steve Waugh where it just seemed like the follow-on was something you naturally didn't take," Hayden added.
Australia breached the 400-run mark in the Border-Gavaskar series after 17 innings.
Australia reduce India to 22-3 in the first innings after being bowled out
The Indian top-order did not take a page out of their opposition's approach when it came to facing the new ball. The trio of Yashasvi Jaiswal (4 runs), Shubman Gill (1 run), and Virat Kohli (3 runs) perished after attempting flashy strokes against Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood to leave India reeling at 22-3 in the first innings.
As of writing, rain has made yet another appearance to interrupt the proceedings in Brisbane. Early lunch has been called after Rishabh Pant walked out to bat at No. 5.