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Apparently they were doing match simulations on a pre prepared turning pitch in Sydney which was like an Indian track. The problem for the batsmen was that they were not facing anyone of the class of Ashwin Jadeja and Axar in these sessions.
The pitch at Nagpur was not a minefield, India made 400 on it FFS!

Basically the have got three options,
advance and get it on the full
go right back and play it off the pitch
play the sweep shot

Yallop, Border and Hughes would have got it on the full
G.S Chappell would have played the sweep shot

Agree with BH re the poor preparation prior to supposedly one of the biggest series an Aust cricket team can ever face. Those BBL centuries  of Smith, plus those BBL 50's of Labuschagne, Renshaw, Carey and Uzzie counted for little TBH. Warner's BBL failures continued on into test match failures.
Though India were coming off an ODI and T20 series v a second string NZ side, so their prep wasn't spot on either.

The only blessing with that defeat in 3 days is that Murphy, whilst cooked towards the end of that Indian innings after 47 overs, has an extra 2 days to recover. Pretty sure the kid hasn't bowled that many overs in a match at all, especially against elite batsmen.

Changes for the second test, will be interesting, Agar surely plays, even if it's to lighten the load of Murphy and provide a different angle of attack. Green comes in, hopefully he can use his height and do what Hayden did years ago by sweeping with a big front foot stride. His bowling will be rusty though. Warner and Uzzie will stay, though both will be under the pump if they have double failures again. Renshaw needs to open or not play, Head comes in surely, even just to attack and put some heat back on to the Indian bowlers. Cummins will play, meaning Boland gives way, but realistically Boland was good in terms of economy, unlike the skipper.

Warner Uzzie Labs Smith Head Green Carey Agar Cummins Murphy Lyon.

Looks like panic stations have already begun with Bailey, McDonald & Cummins with QLD left arm orthodox spinner Kuhnemann now being flown over to India and expected to play in the 2nd Test.
Not sure why they even bother to take Agar on these tours other than he must be the best cordial stirrer in history!!!!

Australia hasn't won a test in New Delhi since 1959,,,64 years agoHave not played a test in Delhi since 2017.India vs Sri Lanka..
On that occasion the Sri Lankan fielders wore facemasks.Aparantly the pollution is terrible in New Delhi.

ArkRoyal wrote:

Basically the have got three options,
advance and get it on the full
go right back and play it off the pitch
play the sweep shot

Yallop, Border and Hughes would have got it on the full
G.S Chappell would have played the sweep shot

Greg Chappell would have let it pass through to the keeper - the idea of a tour to India that is. 

TM: he went to Pakistan and Sri Lanka; believe it or not, the ACB never really schedulled a tour to India in his time. Unfriendly during the Cold War, India, whose leaders took 'Non-Alignment' very seriously, has a lot to make up with the West. Pakistan was pro-West, so our cricketers went there in 1958
The side below plays all of the spinners on tour plus Green and Head
Green
Usman
Smith
Marnus
Head
Agar
Carey
Lyon
Murphy
Swepson
Cummings

it was a sharp lesson of play in India
the openers exposed and no middle order thanks to selectors

Starc is in for the 2nd Test , Green still out , Swepson flown home & Kuhnemann joins
over to those selectors

I just read that the selectors had no confidence to play Head in the first test, due to his inability to play on low slow wickets.
I beg your pardon! If you had no confidence in playing him, WTF did you select him?
Two they said that Ashton lacked confidence and was out of sorts.
selected to play in the Sydney test with no real cricket under his belt and very few late games of T20. He was expected to pick the team up and carry it on his back in Sydney. The selectors threw him under the bus. Then the former Aussie selector, Mark Waugh, bagged him mercilessly whilst on air during the test. Then yesterday made the bold statement, " gee we could do with a left arm spinner right now".
And to add to that, the leggie they selected Swepson, leaves to come home because his wife is having a baby!!!!! WWTF send him if it was for a holiday.
Same as Hazlewood, .Injured before going over, still injured on arrival. WTF send him. Another holiday for the boys!!!!!  
Don't get me wrong on Hazlewood, I think he is a good bowler, but sending him there injured!!
Our selectors are Dumb, Dumber and Dumbest.
 

Thanks to the incompetence of the Australian Team, Foxtel had to show replacement programming where day 4 of the test would have been shown. Ironically one of the programs showed the 2004 series in India which was the only time Australia have won a series in India in the last 50 years. What struck me most was the batting of Damien Martyn who scored back to back centuries. I had forgotten what a pleasing batsman he was to watch. He was just so confident in the way he played Kumble who is one of the greatest spinners India have produced. He used his feet wonderfully well to get to the pitch of the ball and hit straight, then when Kumble bowled short, he rocked back and cut or pulled with ease, He was proactive and put pressure on Kumble which forced even a bowler as great as him into error.

Fast forward to 2023 and our leaden foot batsmen stuck in the crease, sitting ducks for Jadeja and Ashwin. No plans to put them under pressure and force them to think. Only Smith seemed to have the skills to try and knock them off their lengths