Star Aussie batsman Travis Head has poured cold water on any rumours suggesting that a rift has developed in his side’s dressing room.
Concerns had arisen during the first Test against India after his team-mate, Josh Hazelwood made some surprising comments to reporters after India had put themselves 522-run lead at the end of Day Three.
Hazelwood, who took five wickets across both innings, was asked for his take over how Australia had planned to overcome the huge deficit, but instead told reporters: ‘You’ll have to ask the batters that question.
‘I’m sort of relaxing and getting a bit of physio treatment and probably looking mostly to the next Test and what plans we can do against these batters.’
Fox Cricket pundit Adam Gilchrist took note of the comments, stating: ‘That to me tells me there is a potentially divided changingroom.’
‘I don’t know if that’s the case, I might be reading too much into that.’
Travis Head has poured cold water on the explosive rumours that Australia have a ‘divide’ in their camp
It came following Josh Hazelwood’s revealing comments at the end of Day Three of the first Test
Adam Gilchrist (left) claimed Hazelwood’s statement made it seem like there was a ‘division’ in the Aussie changing room
It led to much furore over whether a rift has appeared between Pat Cummins’ bowlers and batters, both underperforming during the match.
Meanwhile, Cummins has blasted any notion that there is a rift emerging in the changing room and has since been backed up by batting star Travis Head.
‘I think (people have) picked the bones out of a comment on the back of a poor week, which is fine,’ Head, who scored Australia’s highest second-innings run total (89), told 7NEWS.
‘It’s OK to be critical, we understand that. We stuck together, had some good conversations, definitely no fractions.
‘All the boys hung out together last night.’
Cummins added after the Test that this Australia side was one of the most close-knit groups he’s played with.
‘There’s plenty of times where the batters have dragged us bowlers out of tight situations and we’ve done the same,’ he said.
‘It’s probably one of the tightest teams I’ve ever played with. We really enjoy playing cricket together. We’ve been through a lot the last few years, the core group. So no problems there. Everyone gets along really well, so all good.’
Pat Cummins, meanwhile, has denied any claim that fractions are starting to appear in his squad
Australia went on to be thumped by India who won by a whopping 295 runs in Perth
But Hazelwood’s comments, coupled with Australia’s disappointing form, sparked much speculation from several cricketing greats on Fox Sports.
Former England captain Michael Vaughan appeared to concur with Gilchrist, stating: ‘I must admit I’m staggered by that. Publicly I’ve never heard an Australian come out and divide the camp into batters and bowlers.
‘There’s 11 batters, that’ll never change. Every single player has to come out and bat.
‘I’ve been in many teams and we get it. When the batters are going well and they’re not getting the wicket, you go: “Come on bowlers”. And when the batters are batting like Australia are at the minute, the bowlers say: ‘”Come on batters give us a little bit more time”.’
Ravi Shastri’s comments were perhaps the most scathing, with the India cricketing great claiming ‘mental cracks’ had appeared in the Aussie squad.
‘What the Indian dressing room will be thinking when they hear something like that, we know there are cracks on the pitch but I feel there are some mental cracks as well at this moment in time in the opposition,’ he said to Fox Cricket.
‘Having come to Australia for 30-40 years, I think this is the first time an Indian team is feeling that: “You know what, we are better than the opposition in their backyard”.’
Australia were beaten by 295 runs, after Virat Kohli and Yashasvi Jaiswal both produced centuries in the second innings, to take their tally to 487 for six.
After declaring on a score of 487-6, India welcomed Australia back to the crease, with Nathan McSweeney, Pat Cummins and Marnus Labuschagne all being dismissed for 12 runs in the final 45 minutes of play at the Optus Stadium on Day Three.
Despite their best efforts, Australia could only make a dent in India’s mammoth score, with the hosts finishing up on day two on 238-10.
Marnus Labuschagne is also in the spotlight after he was dismissed on Sunday afternoon, scoring just five runs across both innings
Head though, was keen to reassure fans that Australia can spin things around in Adelaide next week.
‘We play the pink ball well traditionally there and look we’re going to have to,’ Head added.
‘There’s no hiding behind that, we’ve got to play better.
‘Nothing’s guaranteed in this game, but if we work hard, no reason why we can’t turn it around.’
