Aussies defend absence of Smith
GOING “hitter-heavy” deep in the batting order remains the best way forward for Australia despite a wobbly opening to its T20 World Cup defence and growing calls for Steve Smith to find his way into the team.
All-rounder Mitch Marsh dismissed any suggestion confidence among the reigning champions had been rattled in Saturday’s thrashing by New Zealand, which he conceded had put Australia’s “backs against the wall”.
Critics have come hard at the Australians for not picking Smith, given his peers as the world’s best batters, India’s Virat Kohli and New Zealand star Kane Williamson, are key men in their respective lineups.
Marsh conceded Smith would be a “walk-up start” in most teams but backed the Australian XI without him to take down Sri Lanka in Perth on Tuesday night and “get our World Cup going”.
“If you look down at our team, we have a pretty incredible batting line-up for a T20 side,” Marsh said. “With Tim David coming in to the side we’ve gone hitter-heavy, which will become really important if we can get off to a good start on the Australian grounds.
“(Smith) has been fantastic, for someone who has literally done everything in the game, has so much experience and in any other side in the world would be a walk-up start.
“We’re early on in the tournament, things can change, but for now we have a set XI and one that I truly believe in.”
Marsh, who was the man of the match in last year’s World Cup final, was adamant that once Australia got on a roll they’d be “hard to stop”. “We didn’t start well but we have great self-belief. We know our best is the best in the world.”