Skipper’s frustration as batting collapses
AUSTRALIAN captain Steve Smith has a blunt message for his batsmen: the collapses must stop now.
The visitors are in dire trouble in their one-day series against India after losing 8-112 during their 50-run defeat in Kolkata yesterday, leaving them down 2-0 with three games to play.
Smith said batting collapses had become a worrying trend in all forms of cricket.
“We’ve had a lot of collapses and we need to stop,” Smith said. “It’s a hard one to put my finger on but whatever it is, it needs to change.
“We need to make better decisions when we’re under pressure and start playing the game properly. It’s not good enough.”
Australia have lost their past 10 ODIs away from home and must break that streak in Indore tomorrow to keep this series alive.
Smith played well for 59 at Eden Gardens until he was caught in the deep off the bowling of Hardik Pandya. Marcus Stoinis worked hard for an unbeaten 62, but Australia lost too many wickets due to poor shot selection as the Indian bowlers kept the pressure on.
“It’s easy just to sit here and say, ‘It needs to stop’, but when you get out in the middle you need to change what you’re doing because it’s not working,” Smith said.
“Watching the ball closer ... or maybe the guys are trying to watch it too closely and forgetting about just playing the game.”
Smith lamented his side’s inability to build partnerships.