Aussies’ big hitters proving too timid
AUSTRALIA v STH AFRICA Tonight, Metricon Stadium, 7.20pm
AUSTRALIA has been touted as a nation of fearless hitters, but in fact they’ve been exposed as too timid for their own good.
Damning statistics have spotlighted the crisis of confidence that has gripped Australia’s white ball batting ranks heading into tonight’s one-off Twenty20 international against South Africa on the Gold Coast.
Detailed analysis from CricViz reveals how the embattled top order is second-guessing themselves at the crease and are being dogged by the fact batsmen have no second or third gear.
Attacking weapons Aaron Finch, Chris Lynn, Marcus Stoinis, Alex Carey, D’Arcy Short and Glenn Maxwell will all transition from ODI cricket to the T20s tonight and must shake off chastening criticism from their own camp that they’re “one-dimensional.”
India is due to arrive in Brisbane this morning and Lynn and Co. are under mounting pressure to cut loose and play their natural games in the looming T20 matches or risk expulsion from Australia’s World Cup plans.
In the first 20 overs of Australia’s last-start ODI series loss to South Africa in Hobart, 45 per cent of all shots from the batsmen were defensive, the most an Australian outfit has ever played in that period of an ODI since records began.
Given Australia’s ODI selection policy has centred around picking T20-focused batting cannons, the fact players are trying to change to a more moderate approach points to muddled minds.
Lynn admits Australia must come out swinging on the Gold Coast if they’re to rediscover their lost self-belief.
“First and foremost we need to be out there throwing the first punch and putting them on the back foot,” Lynn said.
“I guess (confidence might have been down) because we didn’t get off to the greatest starts (in the one-dayers) so hopefully we can do that tonight.
“I suppose we were always just chasing the game rather than driving the game.
“If you drive the game, it makes life so much easier, not only for the batting group but for your captain, for your bowlers.
“We’ll see what happens.
“You don’t get better overnight I believe, so it’s going to take a while to adjust but the change room is happy and we’re working our arses off.”