Nathan Lyon tactics, Shane Warne staggered | Alds

With Australia struggling to break the second wicket partnership of Cheteshwar Pujara and Shubman Gill, Warne was getting angrier by the second as Australia stuck with defensive tactics during Nathan Lyon’s second spell of the day.

Warne continued to get hot under the collar as the session progressed, also taking issue with Australia’s failure to change up its tactics and throw down a short ball barrage.

He was most upset with the field Australia set for Lyon bowling to Pujara — a player who has previously been Lyon’s bunny in recent series.

A tactical decision not to put a bat pad in place on the off-side was the final straw for Warne.

“Once again this pretty average field that Nathan Lyon has is just leaking easy singles,” Warne told Fox Cricket.

“I’m just staggered that with Pujara especially there is no bat pad on the off side. I can’t believe it. I just cannot believe it. Especially after everything in the last series and in this series and how he’s bowled to Pujara. I don’t know what conversations they’ve had, but with no bat pad to start with. I’m in shock. I’ve been disappointed with some of the tactics this series from the Australians, but this one, it just doesn’t make any sense.

“I don’t have an answer, I just cannot explain it. Why on earth would you not have one?”

Warne said the blame for the fielding blunder fell on the shoulders of Lyon, rather than captain Tim Paine.

Warne also complained about the Aussie quicks and their inability to change their tactics as the Indian batsmen settled in. He wish was finally granted when Pat Cummins returned to the attack and bowled a series of short balls.

He said: “Why haven’t they done this earlier? There are so many coaches around this Australian team Why haven’t they said something? It’s ridiculous.”

Mark Waugh was also baffled, saying: “It’s really annoying me watching this.

“There’s so many men on the leg-side (instead), surely you can do away with one of those.”