Allan Border cops backlash over shock call on Todd Murphy for second Test

Allan Border has drawn a strong reaction from cricket fans and pundits after suggesting Australia should drop spin sensation Todd Murphy for the second Test against India. The Aussies were thrashed by an innings and 132 runs in the first Test in Nagpur, however Murphy was one of the few bright spots.

The Victorian was brilliant on Test debut, taking 7-124 in 47 overs. Veteran spin partner Nathan Lyon failed to have the same impact, returning figures of 1-126.

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But despite his heroics in Nagpur, former Test captain Border made the staggering call on Thursday that Murphy should be dropped so the Aussies can play three seamers. The tourists have instead gone with three spinners, but Border went the complete opposite way and said the Aussies should play to their strengths and play more fast bowlers.

“We tend to sort of look at that ‘the pitches are going to turn, let’s go with a couple of spinners’,” Border said on SEN radio. “I think we should go the other way, go with our strengths - go with the fast bowlers and bowl to certain plans to their batsmen.

"Subtle change in tactics, go with the three quickies and the one spinner. That formula has worked well for us generally.

“When we’ve done well in India in the past, McGrath and Kasprowicz and Jason Gillespie, fast bowlers have done a really good job for us. And on the back of that our batsmen have done a good job making a decent sort of score. You can’t win games like we did in the first Test match."

Under Border's strategy, Murphy would miss out and Lyon would play as the lone spinner. “Well done to young (Todd) Murphy, it’s going to be a tough decision to leave him out, I know the wicket is going to turn but I just reckon the formula for us to be successful (is) three quickies and one spinner," he added.

“Really work hard on your field positions … Just bowl stump to stump and be relentless with that sort of tactic, I think that is going to be better for us than trying to beat them with spin, we’ve tried that forever and ever, and it hasn’t worked. That formula to me just isn’t working, and we need to go back to what does work and that is with the quickies.”

However not many were on board with Border's suggestion. Many said it would be unthinkable to drop Murphy after his starring performance in the opening Test.

Pat Cummins backs David Warner ahead of second Test

Aussie skipper Pat Cummins addressed reporters on the eve of the second Test and moved to play down speculation that David Warner would be dropped. Former teammate Mitchell Johnson was among the many calling for Warner to be axed this week, while reports emerged that selectors were considering bringing Travis Head back into the XI at the top of the order.

But Cummins said he fully expected Warner to be opening the batting when the second Test started in Delhi - and he was. "I'm sure Davey will be there," Cummins said.

"You saw this year at the Boxing Day Test when he puts pressure back on the opposition he's pretty hard to bowl to. He has been batting really well here, even in the lead up I thought he was fantastic. I know there's a lot of talk about spin bowling through the middle but with that new ball it's sometimes the hardest time to bat as well."

Head was recalled for the second Test at the expense of Matt Renshaw, who made 0 and 2 in Nagpur. Matthew Kuhnemann was named for his Test debut as the third spinner alongside Murphy and Lyon.

"Trav has been awesome," Cummins said about Head on Thursday. "Been working really hard out the back on his game.

"He's been fantastic around the squad like he always is. He's absolutely part of the conversations for this Test, just like the first Test so he couldn't be doing any more."

Australia XI for second Test: David Warner, Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Steve Smith, Travis Head, Peter Handscomb, Alex Carey (wk), Pat Cummins (c), Todd Murphy, Nathan Lyon, Matthew Kuhnemann.

India XI: Rohit Sharma (c), KL Rahul, Cheteshwar Pujara, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KS Bharat (wk), Ravindra Jadeja, Ravichandran Ashwin, Axar Patel, Mohammed Shami, Mohammed Siraj.

with AAP

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