There are culture wars being fought in Australian cricket, and only a victory in the second Test for Pat Cummins’ men will prevent tension from rising further.

The Border-Gavaskar Trophy is on the line, and careers hang in the balance – but the contest against India in Adelaide is not the only battle the team and support staff find itself in.

Justin Langer, Adam Gilchrist, Pat Cummins and Andrew McDonald.Credit: Artwork: Nathan Perri. Photos: Getty Images, AP

There is angst in NSW, the state that produces the most national players. Former players, some close to ousted former coach Justin Langer, finally have an underperforming team to critique, while there are sections of the public who take glee in defeat in sinking the boots into Cummins, whom they brand “Captain Woke” for his views on Australia Day and climate change.

Australia’s heavy loss to India in Perth has created fertile ground for critics of Cricket Australia and the national men’s team.

Since it became clear midway through the first Test that Australia were doomed, there have been suggestions of a dressing room rift, fears conveyed over the systems and structure in the domestic game, and the customary calls for mass change after defeat. Not all are overreactions.

At a glance, the furore over white-ball specialist Adam Zampa’s selection for NSW’s Sheffield Shield team seems a world away from the main action.

Whether there was a directive from CA to pick Zampa, a view robustly prosecuted by former Test seamer and now NSW........

© Brisbane Times