NEWS
Follow UsThe last time India played a pink ball Test in Adelaide, in December 2020, the Men in Blue were bundled out for just 36. However, they managed to turn things around and won the series 2-1. India are now once again set to play a day-night Test at the same venue, starting on December 6, but Australia wicketkeeper-batter Alex Carey knows they can’t go into the Test expecting the visitors to suffer a similar collapse.
"There are obviously amazing days in cricketing history. But no, we do not go out there expecting to do that again. We have a process and a plan and try to execute,” said the left-handed batter.
“And whatever happens, happens. But I was not here for that Test match. I tried to get in, but I missed it. It happened too quickly. But yeah, we are excited. I think we should take a lot and we do take a lot of confidence out of our record with pink ball cricket. It does not mean we will have the success. But I think our methods, our style of play and the experience we have in this group will bounce back from Perth.”
Australia are under immense pressure after having lost the opening Test in Perth by 295 runs. Australia could only manage totals of 104 and 238, with Travis Head (89 off 101) being the only Australian batter to cross the 50-run mark in the entire match.
Following the defeat, Josh Hazlewood was asked how Australia could turn things around in the remaining four games, to which the right-arm seamer replied: “You probably have to ask one of the batters that question... I’m probably looking mostly towards the next Test.”
Carey said the Australian batters are eager to prove themselves against India’s top-quality bowling. "Look, I think if you ask the batters, we all want to perform better. And, you know, cricketers, you go out there to score 100. And if you do not do that, I think you are at times disappointed.
“But, yeah, we are a very united group. We all do get the opportunity to bat. And we are all keen to continue to put those big runs on the board. And I trust the guys to do that. So, excited for them to see them here with another opportunity.”
For the Australian batters to do well, they will have to find a way to tackle Jasprit Bumrah. The ace paceman claimed eight wickets in the first Test and made most of the batters look clueless. "He is obviously a fantastic bowler, and he has been for a number of years,” said Carey, who managed scores of 21 and 36 in the first Test.
“Our batters are world-class as well and always find ways to come up with solutions. And we have had a look at him now, so hopefully we can combat that first, second spell, get him bowling a little bit deeper in the innings. With an older ball, we saw Travis (Head) sort of a bit of a counterpunch.
"So I trust our batters will find a way. Not only Bumrah, they played a couple of other debutants (Harshit Rana and Nitish Kumar Reddy) who bowled well as well.”
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