We weren’t brave enough: Lehmann
Boof refuses to blame pay dispute for Aussie exit
ENGLAND was wasn’t.
That was the blunt assessment from Aussie coach Darren Lehmann after his side was booted from the Champions Trophy by a ruthless batting display from the tournament favourites.
The “new England” made light work of Australia’s paltry 9-277 in Saturday’s final pool match at Edgbaston, ended 10 overs early by more rain, the weather having washed out the Aussies’ opening two games.
English skipper Eoin Morgan smashed more sixes (five) than the whole Australian team (two) and Ben Stokes blasted 15 boundaries in his 102 brave, Australia not out as the home team marched into the semi-finals undefeated.
Much has been made of England’s attack-at-all-costs playing style, and their capacity to “go big” and rack up large scores at will.
Lehmann said all Morgan and his men had done was copy the brilliant, near-unbeatable cricket Australia played at the 2015 World Cup.
And the Aussie coach said his side had to get back to playing like that, and fast, if they want to keep up with the old enemy.
“We certainly want to get back to playing brave cricket. We certainly weren’t brave enough, or smart enough in this tournament,” Lehmann said.
“I would like us to play with a lot more freedom and bravery.”
Local media would have you believe England’s brave playing style, which is pushed heavily by Morgan, has been highly influenced by the way fearless New Zealand skipper Brendon McCullum turned the Kiwis around.
Lehmann, however, was having none of that, and said his side which blitzed the 2015 World Cup was the template for one-day domination.
“I think England and New Zealand took the way we played in the last World Cup. We played with bravery, we smashed every side bar New Zealand in Auckland,” he said.
“They are starting to take the way we played, not viceversa. When they win a World Cup, then we can take the way they play.”
Lehmann conceded the experiment of Moises Henriques batting at number four – which came after a heavy push from captain Steve Smith – playing ahead of Marcus Stoinis who smashed 146 not out against the Kiwis in February “probably didn’t work”.
Sharapova blow
FORMER world No. 1 Maria Sharapova will miss the grass court season, including this month’s Wimbledon qualifying tournament, after failing to recover from a left-thigh injury she suffered during last month’s Italian Open. “After an additional scan, the muscle tear that I sustained in Rome will unfortunately not allow me to compete in the grass court tournaments I was scheduled to play,” Sharapova said on her official Facebook page. Missing the whole grass court season means the 30-year-old Russian will not be ranked high enough for direct entry into the US Open, where officials will have to decide whether to court controversy by offering a wildcard.
Jones in the hunt
AUSTRALIAN golfer Matt Jones sits two shots off the lead after three rounds of the US PGA Tour’s St Jude Classic in Memphis. Rocketing into contention was Spaniard Rafa Cabrera Bello, who chipped in on successive holes on his way to a five-under-par 65 and a share of the lead. The 37year-old Jones fired a second consecutive one-under 69 to be seven under and tied sixth going into the final round. Former world No. 1 Adam Scott trails by five.
Lee advances
AUSTRALIA’S Minjee Lee was four shots behind leader Lexi Thompson in a tie for sixth going into the final round of the Manulife LPGA Classic in Cambridge, Ontario. Lee carded a three-under-par 69 in the third round to be 13 under for the tournament while American Thompson had a 67 to lead compatriot Lindy Duncan (67) by one shot yesterday. South Korean Chun In-gee, the 2015 US Women’s Open champion, carded 68 to trail by two strokes.
Power surge
WILL Power won a wild IndyCar race yesterday under caution at the repaved and reconfigured Texas track with only eight of the 22-car field crossing the finish line. Australian driver Power finished ahead of Tony Kanaan, who other drivers blamed for an earlier nine-car crash that led to a nearly 31-minute red flag. It was the 31st career victory for Power, and his second this season. Simon Pagenaud was third, ahead of defending race champion Graham Rahal.
Dennis in form
AUSTRALIAN cyclist Rohan Dennis has laid down a marker ahead of the Tour de France time trial by taking the opening stage of the Tour of Switzerland. The BMC rider won comfortably in 6:24, 8sec clear of hometown hope Stefan Kueng in second and 9sec ahead of Australia’s Matthias Brandle in third. Fellow Australian Michael Matthews, riding for Sunweb, was fourth while Luke Durbridge (Orica-Scott) finished in 12th. Sprint specialist Matthews relished the short 6.1km course. Phil Anderson remains the only Australian to taste success in Switzerland, winning the event in 1985.