Hussey: selection policy unsettling
ADELAIDE: A revolving selection door is much to blame for Australia hitting rockbottom in oneday cricket, according to Mike Hussey.
The retired batting great says Australia has been unsettled by using 31 players in the past 20 oneday internationals.
‘‘There has been some concerning things happening over the last couple of years that I think have certainly affected the team,’’ Hussey told Adelaide radio station 5AA.
‘‘We have chopped and changed the team way too much in the last couple of years.
‘‘In fact, other than Sri Lanka, we have made more changes than any other country, and that doesn’t help a team settle and gain continuity and gain a bit of trust with each other and know each other.’’
Australia’s last oneday series win was against Pakistan in 201617, after which selectors have picked 31 players.
In that same time span, Sri Lanka has used 41 players in 45 onedayers and the West Indies have selected 34 players in 37 ODIs.
‘‘Good teams have had that core group that have stuck together over a long period of time,’’ Hussey said.
‘‘I would just really back the group that they have got there now. Yes, OK, they’re not doing the job at the moment.
‘‘But if we just stick with them, we know they’re all good players, let them grow together . . . then hopefully we will start to see some improvement.’’
Australia enters the onedayer against South Africa in Adelaide tomorrow on a sevenmatch losing streak, amid 17 defeats in the past 19 ODIs.
And Hussey said Australian cricket’s fresh catchphrases would not solve the problem.
‘‘The elite honesty and elite this and all that sort of motivation, that never really did anything for me whatsoever,’’ he said.
‘‘Having all the posters on the wall, yeah that’s all great, it looks pretty.
‘‘But if you need that sort of stuff and inspirational quotes and things to motivate you to play top level sport then I’m afraid you’re probably not going to make it.’’
❛ . . . if you need that sort of stuff and inspirational quotes and things to motivate you to play top level sport then I’m afraid you’re probably not going to make it