‘New England’ braver than Aussies: Lehmann
ENGLAND were brave, Australia weren’t.
That was the blunt assessment from Australian cricket coach Darren Lehmann after his side was booted from the Champions Trophy in England by a ruthless batting display from the event favourites.
The “new England” made light work of Australia’s paltry 9-277 in the final pool match at Edgbaston yesterday.
The game ended 10 overs early because of rain, which came after the weather 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 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, nearunbeatable 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 wanted to keep up with the old enemy.
“We certainly want to get back to playing brave cricket,” he said.
“We certainly weren’t brave enough, or smart enough in this tournament.
“I would like us to play with a lot more freedom and bravery.”
British 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 Australia’s experiment of Moises Henriques batting at No.4, which came after a heavy push from captain Steve Smith, “probably didn’t work”.