Paceman Mitchell Johnson has refused to label Australia’s shock one-run loss to Zimbabwe in their World Twenty20 warm-up game as a setback.
However Australia will be desperate to get paceman Shaun Tait and vice-captain Cameron White back into their side for Thursday’s second and final warm-up game against Windward XI as they seek to fine-tune their game for their opening Group A match against world champions Pakistan on Sunday.
“I think we did a pretty good job with the ball,” said Johnson, who claimed 4-23 in Zimbabwe’s 7-173 before Australia replied with 7-172.
David Warner (72) and skipper Michael Clarke (49) top-scored for Australia who had three late run outs in St Lucia on Tuesday.
“There was only a couple of overs there that got away from us a little bit,” he said.
“They had one of their guys go pretty hard and do a pretty good job for them.”
With 13 needed from the final over, Australia lost Clarke bowled from the penultimate delivery and then Johnson was run out off a wide before Daniel Christian took a leg bye from the final delivery.
Zimbabwe’s Elton Chigumbura hit a crowd-pleasing 76 from just 35 balls with five fours and six sixes, sharing a 114-run partnership with Craig Ervine (39) for the fifth wicket.
Christian (0-29 off two overs) and Shane Watson (1-34 from two overs) proved expensive.
Dirk Nannes took 1-20 while Brett Lee’s 1-13 from four overs included several slower balls which worked well on the docile pitch.
“Obviously we would have liked to have won,” Johnson said.
“When you come into these practice games you want to be pretty close to your best.
“It won’t be a setback.
“It’s disappointing to lose in a practice match but we’ve just got to keep going forward, keep working hard in our training sessions and make sure we’re ready for the World Cup.”
Republican
Guest
Oz are NOT a T20 power and are no threat to winning the WC slog fest. We really don't have the agricultural type batesman to threaten - do we? Oz won't even get to the quarters. This truncated version of the game has little to do with finess, strategy or stamina, rather more to do with brawn and having a good eye, combined with heaps of luck I suppose. Cheers
Jameswm
Guest
Yep - Harris or Doug the Rug - I wouldn't have minded which. I don't think the loss to the Zims was that big deal. I remember when we headed to the WC in the WI we'd lost 6 of the last 7 or something - and we then pummelled everyone. T20 is less predicatable though - one scorching innings can turn the match - which is what the Zim bloke did. I think our team will be this - the one that started in that 2nd practice match Watson Warner MClarke DHussey White Haddin MHussey Smith Johnson Nannes Tait Can't really argue with that either. Three fast attacking quicks, Watson as medium pace all rounder, then Smith, MClarke and DHussey as spinners. Smith is a pretty good T20 spinner with clever variations. Batting wise Haddin at 6, MHussey at 7, Smith at 8 and Johnson 9 - not half bad. The three Ws - White, Warner and Watson up top as the big hitters.
Brett McKay
Guest
Harris in for Lee too, James, but I'm sure you've seen that...
Jameswm
Guest
I think hauritz got smashed in his 2 overs too. One Zim did all the damage!
ilikedahoodoogurusingha
Guest
ABC radio is talking up the prospect of Doug the Rug replacing Lee if the ICC give us permission to replace him.
Brett McKay
Guest
..yeah, and Christian copped some stick too. Tait and White were rested apparently..
Jameswm
Guest
What a shame Brett. Watson went for 40 off 2 overs I think
ilikedahoodoogurusingha
Guest
As an Australian who went to school for a number of years in Zimbabwe, I'm not sure how to feel about this one.......when they beat the Poms a few years ago I knew exactly how to celebrate!!! :-)
Brett McKay
Guest
Jameswm, if you're out there, you'll love this. Lee has just bowled one his better T20 spells in a year, but has suffered a forearm injury and a replacement is being sought for the T20WC: http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2010/04/28/2884619.htm?section=justin