NEWSLeast impressed by the Australian batsmen's "timid" approach in the ongoing Test series against India, pace legend Glenn McGrath has asked them to take a leaf out of Ajinkya Rahane and Shubman Gill's book.
McGrath rued the approach taken by the Australian batsman so far in the four-match series, which is locked at 1-1 at the moment.
"I think, probably majority with India, the way they bowled, a little bit with just the mindset of the Australian batsmen, as I mentioned before, they were timid," McGrath said during a conference call organised by official broadcasters Sony.
"They are looking to survive rather than to go there and score runs and dominate the bowlers."
The pacer, who dominated batsmen with pinpoint accuracy and sharpness in his heydays, added, "When you have got batsmen looking to survive on pitches that are just offering little bit to bowlers, then it is only a matter of time before they get out.
"I think, you look at the way (Ajinkya) Rahane batted, (Shubman) Gill batted, Rishabh Pant, (Ravindra) Jadeja, those guys they showed what should be done."
McGrath lavished praise on the Indian bowlers and called himself a "big fan" of Jasprit Bumrah.
"You can't take anything away from Indian bowlers. The way Jasprit Bumrah has bowled this series has been amazing. I am a big fan of Bumrah, I have spoken to him a few times and I liked the way he thinks and the way he goes about it."
McGrath praised the Indian attack for the lengths they have hit.
"He (Bumrah) quite enjoys bowling in Australian conditions. A Mohammed Siraj coming in, I just think they bowled very good lengths, sometimes you can get carried away with the bounce in Australia and bowl too short, but they have bowled good lengths," he added.
He was also effusive in his praise for senior offspinner Ravichandran Ashwin, describing his performance as exceptional.
"Ravi Ashwin, the way he has bowled. He always bowls well in the first Test and then something seems goes missing the rest of the series, sometimes, but the way he bowled in Melbourne was exceptional as well," said the bowler, who has 563 Test wickets to his credit.
In the absence of Mohammed Shami, Umesh Yadav and Ishant Sharma, McGrath said the onus will be on Bumrah and Ashwin in the remainder of the four-match series.
"You have got a couple of young guys coming in, Siraj playing his second Test, (Navdeep) Saini playing his first, so a lot will rest on Jasprit Bumrah, maybe Ashwin and (Ravindra) Jadeja, they are all very experienced," he said.
He said it remains to be seen how newcomers Siraj and Saini stand up to pressure situations.
"Once the pressure of Test cricket comes, if Australia are doing well, that's when you need the experience, and that's where experience will come into play and whether that will impact these young bowlers a little bit more.
"Australian batting line-up have the ability to put the pressure back on bowlers and that is going to be the big test. If Australian batsmen do put pressure how do Siraj, Saini stand up, that is the big question.
"But I'm looking forward to the two exciting bowlers, who have a big impact in shorter version, IPL probably more so," he said.
McGrath also said that both the teams will be lifted by the inclusion of star openers Rohit Sharma and David Warner in the third Test.
"I think it is a big lift for both sides. With Rohit coming in with his experience, he is quite an aggressive batsman as well, very similar to David Warner"
The India-Australia match at the Sydney Cricket Ground will be the 13th Pink Test and McGrath said both the teams will be donating their Baggy Pink caps.
"So, here we are again... number 13. Things are a little bit different with COVID and crowd restrictions and what you can do at the ground, but looking forward to it.
"Both teams will be donating their Baggy Pink caps and they will sign them, they will go for auction," he said.
Smith will be lot tougher to bowl to once he reaches 20s and 30s: McGrath
McGrath has lauded the Indian bowlers for not allowing Steve Smith to get set in the ongoing series but feels the star Australian batsman will be a lot tougher to bowl to once he manages to get a start.
Smith, after scoring back-to-back hundreds in the ODIs against India, has managed only 10 runs in the first two Tests of the four-match series.
"It is pretty interesting bowling plan to Steve Smith that has worked so far. England tried it during the Ashes but it didn't work as well and then you had New Zealand with Neil Wagner bowl exceptionally well," McGrath said.
"The Indians have looked to bowl straight to Smith with a leg gully in place, and it's worked so far. With a guy like Steve Smith, the fact that he hasn't got set."
Smith was dismissed for 0 and 8 in the Melbourne Test after scores of 1 and 1 not out in the series opener at Adelaide.
"Once he gets set and is into his innings, he has got the timing, is seeing the ball and has got the pace of the pitch, he goes on to make big scores.
"The fact that India have knocked him over cheaply in all three innings has been a massive bonus and that's where they bowled really well. I feel once he gets to 20 or 30, he will become a lot tougher to bowl to, said McGrath.
India offspinner Ashwin has made Smith his bunny and McGrath said that has been the "big battle" in the series.
"It is going to be interesting, Ashwin has bowled incredibly well this series, he is doing well and they haven't come up with an answer against him. Steve Smith has got out a couple of times, so I think that has been the big battle.
"The unusual thing with Steve Smith not having an impact in this series to date.
"Especially the way he started in the one-dayers, he came out after the IPL, said he has found his hands, but that worked for him in two matches, he scored 100s in each game, maybe coming back to Sydney Cricket Ground he might find his hands again, but that is going to be the big battle, the pacer said.
He also thought that Australia would dominate after the opening Test when they crushed India but credited the visitors for making a stupendous comeback.
"After the first Test, the way the Australian team bowled in that second innings and bowled India out for 36 and went on to win that match, I thought Australia might dominate for rest of the series...
"...and especially when Virat Kohli was coming home, but the way India bounced back, Ajinkya Rahane how he stepped up when he had chance to captain, India played well and went on to win the Test, he signed off.
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