Aussies are down but not out Langer shows faith in reinforcements
■ Ponting says loss to SA and injury setback make situation tough for Australia — Ricky Ponting, Matthew Wade has played a lot of international cricket if he comes in. There's a real upside to him and he is in no doubt career-best form. — Justin Langer,
Manchester, July 8: Australia’s assistant coach Ricky Ponting has admitted that his injuryravaged team, beaten by South Africa in the last league game of the World Cup, is facing a tough situation but says the players can find a way to play their best game in the semifinal.
Australia’s defeat in their final group stage game to South Africa on Saturday was compounded with injuries to Usman Khawaja (hamstring) and Marcus Stoinis (side) that saw Matthew Wade and Mitchell Marsh pulled out of the Australia A tour to join the World Cup squad as cover.
Shaun Marsh was already been ruled out of the tournament after suffering a fractured wrist in a net session.
The defending champions play pre-tournament favourites England in the second semifinals on Thursday.
“It’s not unusual to have disruptions in World Cups. In the last group game before a semi-final is probably a little bit different. If you’re totally honest, it’s not ideal to have these sort of changes going into a World Cup semi-final, especially now we know we’re playing England, the favourites coming into the tournament,” Ponting said.
“It’s up to us coaches to make it as easy as possible for those guys coming in, talking through scenarios and situations and just trying to keep them as free in the mind as possible,” he was quoted as saying by cricket.com.au.
Despite losing to South Africa in their last league match, which resulted in India taking the top spot in the points table, Ponting said Australia have been the best side of the tournament to date.
“We’ve beaten England already in the tournament. I think it’s fair to say we’ve been the standout team of the tournament to date. A loss now, although it’s not ideal going into a semi-final, it’s probably not the worst thing either. It could be a bit of a wake-up, a bit of a freshen up and a bit of a reset. It might just make us a better team.
“Australia’s best game has to be in the semi-final, it’s as simple as that,” he said.
Ponting stressed at the beginning of the tournament that peaking at the back-end of a World Cup, rather than in the initial stages, must be Australia’s major priority.
“We’ve been talking about it, we’ve been building up, looking for that perfect game of cricket. As good as we’ve been in the tournament, we haven’t done that yet and we were a long way off doing it (against South Africa).
“That’s what the focus will be. It’s up to the players now to find another level to beat England.”
He said Australia had in the past dealt with notable hurdles at the three 50-over trophies Ponting won in 1999, 2003 and 2007.
“I think back to 2003 with (Shane) Warne ruled out before a ball was bowled, (Jason) Gillespie played one game and was ruled out, we had Michael Bevan going into the tournament with injury and Darren Lehmann suspended going in. We had a bit going on there,” said the former captain. It's not unusual to have disruptions in World Cups. In the last group game before a semi-final is probably a little bit different. If you're totally honest, it's not ideal to have these sort of changes going into a World Cup semi-final, especially now we know we're playing England, the favourites coming into the tournament Birmingham, July 8: Injury-hit Australia could see some new faces play in the World Cup semifinals against arch-rivals England but coach Justin Langer is optimistic of the reinforcements filling in the void.
Australia, who were sitting comfortably on the top of the points table, slipped in their last group game and will face England in the semifinal and with key players suffering injury the reigning champion will be feeling the pressure.
“It is pressure for anyone, but there is pressure for all 22 guys on the park,” Langer was quoted as saying by Cricket.com.au.
“Matthew Wade has played a lot of international cricket if he comes in. There’s a real upside to him and he is in no doubt career-best form.
“Pete Handscomb a few months ago helped us beat India 3-2 in India in their conditions and then 5-0 against Pakistan in the UAE. His temperament is excellent for it. Mitch Marsh has also played a lot of one day international cricket. We’re really lucky,” Langer said.
Australia has maintained that the side is open to shuffling the batting order according to the situation and Langer reiterated that they are a very adaptable team. “We’ve got so many options, and that’s the positive thing. Whether it’s Steve Smith batting at No.3, whether it’s Alex Carey coming up, we’ve got so many options — it’s a very adaptable team,” Langer said.
Australia’s batting strategy is heavily based on their top order firing consistently and their middle and lower-order finishing the game.
David Warner (638 runs at 79.75) and Finch (507 at 56.33) have struck five centuries between them and Langer stressed they need top-order players who can follow their lead.
“We’ll keep sticking to the way we have picked over (recent) times — the top four guys who can score hundreds.
“We’ll weigh it all up. Potentially with Mitch Marsh coming in giving us some medium pace. He played four Australia A games in pretty good form with bat and ball.”