“They’ll be both out before tea” - Former Australia pacer makes bold predictions ahead of BGT 2024-25 3rd Test
Former pacer Damien Fleming has predicted that India and Australia will likely get bowled out regardless of the toss before Tea on Day 1 of the upcoming third Test at the Gabba in Brisbane, which starts on Saturday, December 14. Fleming pointed out that the two teams looked down and out in the first two Tests.
The 54-year-old added players like Australia’s Usman Khawaja, Steve Smith, and India captain Rohit Sharma have failed to deliver with the bat.
Damien Fleming wrote in his column for theroar.com.au:
“I don’t have a lot of confidence in either team in the first innings. It doesn’t matter who bats first, it looks like they’ll both be out before tea judging by recent form. The batters on both sides have been poor.”
Notably, Travis Head and Marnus Labuschagne returned with scores of 140 and 63, respectively, in the second Test against India in Adelaide. The remaining Australian batters failed to score a half-century.
Smith returned with scores of 0, 17, and 2 in his three outings in the first two Tests. Meanwhile, Khawaja has managed 8, 4, 13, and 9*. The duo are under fire to deliver in Brisbane.
On the other hand, Rohit departed for 3 and 6 in his two innings, managing just 142 runs in his last six Tests at an average of 11.83. Virat Kohli looked brilliant in the first Test, scoring his 30th ton in the format, but managed seven and 11 runs in the second Test.
“It throws the bowlers off their lengths” – Damien Fleming backs Rishabh Pant to play T20 brand of cricket in Tests in Australia
Damien Fleming, meanwhile, has backed Rishabh Pant to continue his aggressive brand of cricket regardless of the condition or situation. He pointed out how a cautious approach during the first over of Day 3 cost him his wicket in the second Test. On this, he wrote:
“Most current players have sound enough techniques. Pant was playing some extraordinary T20-style shots in the second innings of the second Test to try to blast his team out of trouble. It worked for him on the second night but then he got it wrong with his dismissal on the third day, just trying to play a conventional block and he got out sparring at the ball.”
“It worked for him on the second night but then he got it wrong with his dismissal on the third day, just trying to play a conventional block and he got out sparring at the ball. If he thinks batting like a T20 is the way to go, he’s got to totally commit and keep doing it, because it throws the bowlers off their lengths,” he added.
Rishabh Pant scored 28 off 31 in the second innings of the second Test against Australia. His innings was laced with reverse sweeps and reverse ramp shots.