Harbhajan takes a dig at Australia batting
MUMBAI: Harbhajan Singh has had an intense rivalry with Australia in the past, and the ‘Turbunator’ is not in the mood of giving up anytime soon.
In his latest jibe at the struggling Australian cricket team on the Indian tour, Harbhajan has appealed Michael Clarke to return to top flight cricket, asseverating that Australia have stopped producing top batsmen.
Clarke retired post Ashes 2015 from Test cricket, a few months after guiding Australia to their fifth World Cup win.
Since then, Clarke has found a new vocation in cricket commentary, and is currently in India busy working in the ongoing five-match series.
On Sunday, Australia produced yet another lame example of batting despite getting off to a stunning start.
From 224 for two at one stage in the 39th over of their innings, Australia slipped to an embarrassing 293 for six by the 50th.
Australia’s plight was compounded after Indian openers Rohit Sharma and Ajinkya Rahane added 139 for the first wicket, and the hosts sauntered to a comfortable five-wicket victory with more than two overs to spare, powered by Hardik Pandya’s quickfire 78.
All this was enough for Harbhajan to take a swipe at Australia, who appealed to Clarke to pick up the bat and come to his team’s rescue.
“Mate u need to come out of your retirement and start playing again I think.Era of Aussies producing top batsmans is over I feel.No quality,” (sic) Harbhajan said.
The defeat to India on Sunday at the Holkar Stadium in Indore was Australia’s 11th in last 13 matches overseas, two of which were washed out.
The reigning ‘world champions’ are certainly struggling on all fronts in this format, with big names such as Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood and James Pattinson recovering from their injuries.
Perhaps, what has made the matters worse is the absence of Australia’s head coach Darren Lehmann from the India tour, who has stayed home to prepare for the upcoming Ashes 2017-18 to be played Down Under.
Mate u need to come out of your retirement and start playing again I think. Era of Aussies producing top batsmans is over I feel. No quality (sic).
HARBHAJAN SINGH, asks Michael Clarke to come out of retirement