Day two Adelaide Oval results, scores, time, program, entertainment, tips, odds, how to watch, day one

Test greats Ricky Ponting and Sunil Gavaskar have had a difference of opinion over whether Indian skipper Rohit Sharma should have opened the batting.

Rohit has been India’s opening plank but, having missed the first Test to be at the birth of his child, opted to return via No.6. He did not look comfortable, and was dismissed for three when trapped lbw by Scott Boland.

Gavaskar, the legendary former Indian opener and now prominent commentator, said Rohit made the right call not to open after the success the team had in Perth.

Unhappy: Rohit Sharma has a short stay at the crease on Friday. Credit: Getty Images

“Yes, because the previous Test, we had a partnership of 200 between Rahul and Jaiswal, and you don’t want to break that because they have that confidence. Besides, Rohit Sharma hasn’t played any serious cricket for more than a month,” Gavaskar told Seven.

“The last time he played for India was November 3 ... [and the] pink ball is not easy to play. India hasn’t played a pink ball Test for maybe two or three years. Dropping down the order was to me a correct move.”

However, Ponting, the former Australian skipper, said Rohit should have resumed in his regular role.

“I actually disagree with what Sunny just said. I felt he should have come back in the side and opened the batting,” Ponting told Seven.

“KL Rahul has been a fringe player around this team for a number of years. Yes, he got his chance and, yes, he played well in Perth, but what that says to me now is that Rohit Sharma will spend the rest of his career down the order.

“Because KL Rahul has played well, Shubman Gill looked good in the first innings here, the only spot for Rohit Sharma in the side now is going to be at number six. That might be where he stays for the rest of his career. Who knows?

“He is a class player to come back in. Although his record is not that good against Australia, I think he has only made one Test match hundred against Australia, the captain coming back in and batting in the middle was a bit of an eye-opener, but that’s just one of the decisions the captain has to make.”

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