Mitchell Johnson criticized India’s “two vs 11” tactic, claiming their attempt to pressure young Australian batters like Sam Konstas and Beau Webster backfired.
The Border-Gavaskar Trophy ended with intense on-field drama, especially in the last two Tests. Young Sam Konstas made his debut in Melbourne, where he clashed with India’s Virat Kohli in a heated exchange that grabbed headlines. The tension increased in Sydney when Konstas had a verbal spat with Jasprit Bumrah, moments before the Indian pacer dismissed Usman Khawaja with a brilliant delivery.
India employed aggressive tactics, including mental pressure, but the strategy backfired. The visitors lost the final Test by six wickets, surrendering the series and the trophy they had held for a decade.
Former pacer Mitchell Johnson opined that India’s attempt to overwhelm Australia’s young players failed to deliver results.
“The Indian side appeared to embrace the mindset that it was “two against 11″ out in the middle, aiming to make the Aussie batters feel isolated and under pressure. The focus was on not just testing the technical skills of their opponents but also challenging their mental toughness,” Johnson wrote in his column for The Nightly.
“In Test cricket, it’s crucial to create that environment, one where the batters are distracted from their primary objective. This psychological edge can often prove to be just as important as any physical skill in the game. Trying to intimidate the Aussie rookies didn’t really pay off with both Konstas and Beau Webster proving their worth,” he added.
Konstas, in an attempt to defend a teammate, engaged in a heated verbal confrontation with Bumrah. Johnson felt this approach was ill-timed, given the situation and the game’s critical phase. He emphasized the importance of experienced teammates guiding younger players in such moments.
“I appreciate what Konstas was trying to do by supporting his teammate, but it was simply the wrong time for that kind of engagement. At that late stage of the day, there could only be one winner,” he said.
“I wonder if Khawaja had a chat with Konstas or if any of the other senior players offered him some advice after the day’s play on how to navigate such situations. This highlights a crucial aspect of introducing new players to the team: they need the guidance of experienced teammates to understand how to handle various scenarios within the game’s dynamics,” Johnson added.
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Last Updated on January 6, 2025
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