Former Test great Damien Martin forced to defend Steve Smith’s HUGE allegations as Australia aim to fight back against India in Adelaide

Former Australian Test great Damien Martin has been forced to deny claims that he approved Steve Smith’s dismissal in the second Test against India in Adelaide.

The Australians are under enormous pressure after India pumped them up in the first Test in Perth.

India have always won the last two series between the teams in Australia, with the heaviest pressure on Australia’s top Test team.

It was the worst loss in terms of runs in the first Test of a home summer since 1936–37, with the likes of Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne and Smith having a great time against the pace of Indian captain Jasprit Bumrah.

This led to some cricket supporters calling for players such as Labuschagne and Smith to be transferred to the Sheffield Shield due to the defeat.

After the heavy defeat, Martin wrote on social media X: “Are the Australian cricket team making changes to the Adelaide test match?” Or will they stick with the Perth team? If not, what changes are you making?”

The fan then replied: “My initial reaction after Perth was to make two changes, but in reality I would probably make one. Invite Inglis or Cartwright instead of Marnus. Then if Smith fails in Adelaide, he’ll be out next.”

Martin responded to the supporter with a “fair point” with a series of emojis, which was taken to mean the former Test star supported the view that Smith should be dropped.

But Martin quickly rejected those suggestions, saying he uses emojis in every response to increase engagement.

“That’s what’s wrong with journalism right now… just watch social media and make up lies,” he wrote.

“I didn’t say quit @stevesmith49 and I never will.

“I respond to everyone on social media (with emoji) to participate.”

While Martin was forced to deny calling for Smith’s expulsion, another former Test great was less lenient.

Former pace superstar Mitchell Johnson wrote in his News Corp column that Marnus Labuschagne should face the ax due to a string of recent results, including results of just 2 and 3 in Perth.

“Marnus Labuschagne – after a lengthy run of poor performances with the bat – should be replaced for the second Test at Adelaide,” Johnson wrote.

“And this is not so that someone will pay for the beating in Perth.

“I truly believe that the best thing for Labuschagne at this stage would be to remain on the sidelines.

“It would give him a chance to play Sheffield Shield and club cricket, away from the pressure of playing for your country, and I feel he would benefit more from that than trying to survive against Jasprit Bumrah and co.”

“Someone will say: wait a minute, this is just the first test in a long summer. But this has been going on for some time. In his last 10 Test innings, he passed 10 only once.

“Rejecting the 30-year-old Labuschagne doesn’t mean he doesn’t have a long future in the Test team or that he’s not the kind of player who can hit three.”

“However, at the moment, in this form, we need him to be better – which means he needs to make big runs rather than bowling to bouncers and risking potential injury when that is the job of the bowlers in the team.”

“Cricketers get dumped at some point in their career and it’s how you recover from it.

“The thing with him at the moment is that he’s not trying to do everything he can to get better and get back into shape. He’s trying to get through the middle, but it’s not working right now.”

Neither Smith nor Labuschagne are expected to be ruled out for the second Test.

The group will reconvene in Adelaide a day ahead of schedule on Monday, with all eyes on Mitch Marsh’s sore ankle ahead of the first ball on Friday.

The uncapped Beau Webster has been called into the squad and is expected to remain with the group in Brisbane.