Wicketkeeper Alex Carey has brushed off stinging criticism from Allan Border after the cricket legend pleaded for Australia to “play with a harder edge” in India.
Border – after whom the trophy Australia and India battle for is partly named – teed off at Pat Cummins’ team following their nightmare innings and 132-run defeat to the hosts in the first Test in Nagpur.
The former Australia captain took exception to some of the tourists smiling and Steve Smith giving thumbs up to Indian players amid a historic capitulation on Saturday.
“Play with a harder edge. I mean, we’re giving blokes the thumbs up when they’re beating us outside the off stump,” Border told Fox Cricket.
“What the hell is going on? That is just ridiculous.
“Don’t go stupid, but Australia play hard-nose cricket.”
Carey said the team “highly” respected Border but defended Smith’s actions.
(Photo by Matt Roberts – CA/Cricket Australia via Getty Images/Getty Images)
“He’s (Border) played many games of cricket over here and he’s a fantastic leader for Australia,” the 31-year-old said.
“I guess amongst the group guys do it differently. “He (Smith) plays around with his hands and does all that stuff and I think that’s probably what gets him pretty focused.
“They’re obviously strong comments (from Border), but as a group, we believe in what we’re doing and come the second Test, we’re ready to go.”
Australia are confident they can bounce back in the spin-friendly conditions, despite never having won a four-Test series after going down 1-0.
The second match will take place at Delhi’s Arun Jaitley Stadium, starting on Friday, a venue where India have not lost a Test since 1987.
Australia are sticking with the plan they brought to the subcontinent, taking confidence out of last year’s tour of Pakistan when they secured a 1-0 win in the final session of the series.
“It is the first Test of four and we’re still very positive amongst ourselves that we’ll be able to bounce back in Delhi and get this series back level and continue to believe in what we’ve done over the past 12 to 18 months,” Carey said.
“Unfortunately, it didn’t go to plan this first Test, but we’re definitely reinforcing the messages we’ve had leading into the tour and going into the next Test.”
Australia coach Andrew McDonald said Queensland left-arm spinner Matt Kuhnemann was a “live chance” to play after being called into the squad.
The tourists will consider playing Kuhnemann with Murphy and star veteran Nathan Lyon only if allrounder Cameron Green (finger) is available to return from injury.
Green has been ramping up his bowling at training and is looking more comfortable batting in the nets, but is no certainty to be available for the second Test.
Star quick Mitchell Starc is considered a more likely starter after arriving in the Indian capital on Sunday, having recovering from the broken finger he suffered in the Boxing Day Test.
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