Kolkata: Australia’s stand-in head coach David Saker feels that the team’s batsmen were not bold enough and played ‘scared’ during the ODI series loss against India.
The Indian team trounced the visiting Australians 4-1 in the five match series, courtesy which they reclaimed their position in the top of the ICC rankings.
“A lot of them are playing a little bit scared, which we try not to do. We try and make sure they play with a lot of freedom and express themselves as much as they can,” said Saker.
“But when you’re losing, you play scared, you go insular and you start looking after number one. I think there’s little bits of that,” he also added.
He is aware of the team’s poor overseas records, especially in the subcontinent. But at the same time, he is confident that his boys have the talent to reverse the records. “It’s not dramatic and we know we can fix that. I think the talent is there.”
“Obviously, our away form has been quite dreadful so we have to have a look at that. The next World Cup is away [from Australia],” said a hopeful Saker. Before adding, “I don’t think it’s all doom and gloom, I think there’s some talent in that team. But there’s no doubt we have to probably re-jig a few things and see where we’re at.”
The Aussie batsmen often found it hard to pick the delivery of chinaman Kuldeep Yadav. They also struggled against the spin of Yuzvendra Chahal and part-timer Kedar Jadhav.
Humbled in the One-Day Internationals, the Aussies will welcome the three match T20I series with both hands to stage their comeback and salvage some pride from a otherwise disappointing tour.
Captain Steve Smith had urged his batsmen to practise what they preach after the loss in the final match of the ODI series on Sunday and head coach Saker echoed the same as he said, “It’s not mainly personnel, I think it’s mainly just their mindset and where they are in their games.”