Johnson accuses Australia of 'not caring enough' after latest setback in India

26 February 2023 , 13:16

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Mitchell Johnson believes the current Australian Test team "doesn't look as if they care enough" (Image: Paul Kane/Getty Images)

Former Australia quick Mitchell Johnson has claimed the current side "don't look as if they care enough", having "folded" in the first two Tests against India.

Australia were full of confidence ahead of the trip as they looked to claim a first series in India since 2004. They entered the series as the number one ranked team in the world, having only lost one of their last 15 games.

However, their hopes of regaining the Border-Gavaskar Trophy evaporated inside just six days of cricket as they fell to a humiliating innings defeat in Nagpur and then suffered a calamitous collapse in Delhi as India took an unassailable 2-0 lead in the series.

India do have a remarkable record at home, having lost just one series to England in 2012 since Australia last beat them 19 years ago, but Johnson is more concerned with the manner of Australia's defeats and believes the tour has "descended into a bit of a debacle".

In his latest column for the West Australian, Johnson said: "At 2-0 down, it's time for players to look in the mirror and take it upon themselves. Australia boast three of the top four Test batsmen in the world according to the current rankings, with Marnus Labuschagne and Steve Smith the top two.

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"It's time for them to stand up. The Australian cricketers are living in such a bubble at the moment. I know what that's like because I've been there.

Australia lost the first two Tests inside three days and Johnson has slammed the way they "folded" (Robert Cianflone/Getty Images)

"Everything that's being thrown at you from the outside, you can sort of block it out. But the risk is coming across as being a little too relaxed about losing a series inside six days that you were expected to be highly competitive in.

"From the outside, it doesn't look as if they care enough. Losing isn't the issue. It's the way they've folded that has been the most disappointing part.

"The tour has descended into a bit of a debacle with injuries, selection puzzlers and players coming home left, right and centre. None of it has made much sense."

Matthew Cooper