Aussie world of fun
AUSTRALIA coach Justin Langer has revealed the ability of his team to “embrace fun” and their love of each other helped drive them to Twenty20 World Cup glory.
Australia was given little chance going into the tournament on the back of two wins from 10 lead-in matches.
The critics came at them early after middling efforts in warm-up matches and a lack of output from star players including opener David Warner – who finished up as player of the tournament – and with questions about the line-up.
But Langer said living in a bubble in Dubai allowed his players to block out the external noise, and the coach, who was under the pump himself, said the bond the players developed carried them through the tournament.
“We’ve got some amazing cricketers here, we haven’t had a chance to play together because of different reasons for the last 12 months, so when we all got back together, it was almost like a reunion,” Langer said. “There’re so many close relationships there. It’s a very, very special moment.”
“We knew that when we came back together how much talent we had. That’s for one. I mean, there’s enormous talent in this team. In this situation, where everyone talks about bubbles, these guys had so much fun on and off the ground.
“In this form of the game, actually in the game of cricket, it’s important to have fun and enjoy it, and the guys have done that. I think it was a really important part of our success here.”
Australian all-rounder Marcus Stoinis said the “love” in the group was as important as players’ ability.
“This group of boys, we absolutely, we actually love each other,” he told ESPN cricinfo. “It is beautiful. I can’t wait to keep playing with this team. I’m so proud of them. You won’t find bigger supporters of Mitch Marsh than right here and probably his family. We’re so happy for him.”
Langer also singled out Marsh for his player of the match effort in the final, one of the players who emerged as a missing piece of the T20 puzzle during tours of the West Indies and Bangladesh, tours that yielded little else.
“There were a few missing pieces, and Mitch Marsh took one of those pieces. And he’s been brilliant,” Langer said.