“Standard of batting has fallen” - Ex-Indian cricketer after the 1st Ashes Test concluded in two days

Former Indian cricketer and commentator Aakash Chopra has opened up on Steve Smith-led Australia’s eight-wicket win over England in the first Test of the ongoing Ashes 2025-26 campaign, in Perth. 

Interestingly, the Perth Test got concluded in only two days with Australia finishing the 205-run chase in only 28.2 overs, courtesy of Travis Head’s exceptional century and Marnus Labuschagne’s brilliant half-century on a tough batting wicket.

Speaking on his YouTube channel, Chopra asserted that when the same thing happened in the recently concluded India vs South Africa first Test at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata in three days, the West stated that Test cricket was dead.

"When the same thing happens in Eden Gardens, the West says that 'Test cricket is dead. India is making a mockery of Test cricket'. Interesting, not only the West, some of our people are also doing the same," Aakash Chopra said on his YouTube channel.

Furthermore, Chopra reckoned that the standard of batting has fallen across the globe, adding that defensive batting has become a lot weaker in the longest format of the game. He stated that both Perth and Eden Gardens wickets weren’t unplayable, as shown by Travis Head and Temba Bavuma in the second innings.

“The truth of the matter is that the standard of batting has fallen, especially defensive batting has become a lot weaker. This is across the board - India, South Africa, New Zealand, England and Australia as well. The pitch in Perth was not unplayable, but batting was not good and they just got folded. The pitch at Eden Gardens was bad, but not unplayable, as Temba Bavuma showed,” he concluded.

While India is currently playing the second Test against South Africa in Guwahati, England will next take on Australia in the second Test of the five-match series in Brisbane, starting on Thursday, December 4.

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