Australian Media criticise Team India after their lacklustre performance in Pune

Australia registered their maiden Test win on Indian soil in 13 years after they defeated the hosts convincingly by 333 runs in the opening Test in Pune to take a 1-0 lead in the 4 match series. The media Down Under has hailed Australia for their exceptional performance and said this team is capable of creating history and winning their first Test series in India in more than 10 years. The media also praised left-arm spinner Steve O’Keefe for his exceptional match figures of 12/70 which was instrumental in Australia’s comprehensive victory.

“History has been made. Australia has won its first game in India in almost 13 years. Steve O’Keefe has put his name on an honour board among the very best the game has ever seen and India is in shock,” an article in ‘The Australian’ Newspaper read. “A billion plus people didn’t see this coming. A good 20 million plus Australians were of the same mind. Nobody outside the camp gave Steve Smith’s men a chance, but they romped it in. The best bit? They beat the Indians at their own game,” it further said.

The Sun Herald praised Steve O’Keefe for his dream spell in both the innings along with captain Steve Smith who scored an exceptional match-winning century in the 2nd innings. “Steve O’Keefe led Australia to one of its greatest Test victories on Indian soil with a superhero performance that rewrote the record books and humiliated the shell-shocked hosts inside three days,” the Sun-Herald was quoted as saying.

“Australia will head to Bangalore for the second Test with genuine belief they can pull off what only a few days ago seemed like mission impossible and win just their second series on these shores since 1969,” the newspaper further wrote. The Sydney Morning Herald criticised Team India on their horrendous choice of reviews.

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“There was a range of different factors that led to Australia recording their first Test win in India since 2004. The tourists were much better in the field, while they outperformed the top-ranked Test side with bat and ball,” the newspaper said.

“One of the most stark differences between the two teams was their use of DRS. Intended to remove umpiring howlers, Virat Kohli’s side burned their referrals frivolously throughout the contest that ended on Saturday.The most glaring example came when openers Murali Vijay and KL Rahul, unhappy with their lbw dismissals, wasted the side’s two reviews in just 5.3 overs of India’s second innings.”

“Written off as the worst Australian team to ever tour cricket’s most imposing fortress, a great sporting upset is now firmly on the cards,” the Sunday Telegraph said.