Matthew Renshaw may be replaced in the side by Cameron Green if he is fit.Credit:Getty Images
The question is,at what stage does keeping the faith with those who have failed become insanity,which can easily take hold of teams touring India?
Cricket is a batter’s game,so there are any number of historical precedents to suggest despitelosing by an innings and 132 runs inside three days,Australia’s batters may survive and a bowler may be dropped for the second Test in Delhi.
England were bowled out for 46 during their 1994 tour of the West Indies,when the calypso kings were still unofficial Test champions,dropped leggie Ian Salisbury for modest left-arm finger spinner Phil Tufnell as the only change in the following Test,and won by 208 runs.
England,though,were competitive in that series,before going down 3-1. There was nothing competitive about Australia in Nagpur,save for an 82-run third-wicket partnership between Marnus Labuschagne and Steve Smith,which wasn’t nearly long enough,and some brilliant bowling from debutant off-spinner Todd Murphy,who created a middle-order collapse.
Mitchell Starc may play the second Test if he overcomes a finger injury.Credit:Getty Images
Australia’s most likely change is to leave out Scott Boland,who bowled well but without luck,for Mitchell Starc should he overcome a finger injury.
The big hope is that all-rounder Cameron Green will recover sufficiently from a broken finger to replace Matt Renshaw in the middle order and offer Australia another fast-bowling option. That would allow Australia to play three spinners in Delhi,withQueensland left-arm tweaker Matt Kuhnemann being flown over.