Australia captain George Bailey says his side can still win the World Cup that starts later this month despite their record loss to Pakistan in the opening Twenty20 clash.
Australia crashed to their second-lowest total of 89 en route to a seven-wicket thrashing at the hands of Pakistan in the opening match of their series on Wednesday night.
Pakistan made short work of their target in Dubai, scoring 3-90 from 14.5 overs led by Kamran Akmal’s unbeaten 31. Shoaib Malik was nine not out.
It’s Australia’s heaviest loss by balls remaining.
“I’m very disappointed and there’s plenty to go away and work on,” Bailey said.
“You don’t ever want to be setting those sorts of records.
“But in terms of the group we’ve got together and what we’re capable of, it certainly hasn’t altered my thoughts that we can still be a very good team.
“I still think we can win it. Definitely. Absolutely,” he added.
“I certainly don’t think we’d win if we played like we did today.”
Bailey said he couldn’t pinpoint one reason for the team’s batting collapse.
“It’s just one of those things. It’s hopefully just a bad performance and one that you won’t see again,” he said.
“Even if we gained a tiny bit of momentum, we gave it back by losing a wicket.”
Australia were invited to bat first in hot and humid evening conditions on a pitch Bailey said was slow-paced and assisting the spinners. He said 140 would have been a reasonably good target to set Pakistan.
Pakistan’s Saeed Ajmal had claimed 10 wickets in the three-match one-day international (ODI) series that ended earlier this week and the offspinner was damaging again with 2-13 off four overs.
Fellow spinners Mohammad Hafeez and Raza Hasan, on debut, also took two wickets while paceman Sohail Tanvir picked up 3-13 and Umar Gul claimed the key wicket of Shane Watson lbw for eight.
Opener David Warner (22) was the only batsman to reach 20 in a worrying display from Australia just two weeks shy of Australia’s opening T20 World Cup clash with Ireland in Colombo.
Australia’s quicks Pat Cummins, Ben Hilfenhaus and Watson took one wicket each in Pakistan’s innings.
The three-game series continues in Dubai on Friday night.
Don Corleone
Guest
The fact is- things won't improve while some of those players will only play one or two, or even no games in the domestic T20 competition. Many of the Australian T20 players will be playing in ODIs against Sri Lanka while the Big Bash finals are on this season...the scheduling is a joke.
Don Corleone
Guest
The problem is solid Bash Bash performers like Aaron Finch, Travis Birt and James Faulkner were picked for the T20Is against India...they're not even in the squad now...why. Surely Steve O'Keefe is a better pick than Xavier Doherty. Too many being picked on reputation and favouritism.
josh
Guest
Good side.
jameswm
Guest
Totally agree - the selectors haven't worked out that you pick a different side for T20 cricket. You can't just judge by how they go in domestic cricket, you have to look at the IPL. It's a different ball game, excuse the pun, but the selectors haven't realised it yet.
DC of nz
Guest
Where are Finch and Quiney? Poor selections ...
Talisman
Guest
I don't care what players are picked, an Australian international team SHOULD NEVER be bowled out in a T20 match. This is more about attitude & commitment than it is about talent or lack of it.
TheGenuineTailender
Roar Guru
Start by picking pretty much a completely different side. The Boundary Rider made the point that our players perform well in the IPL, but those particular players aren't in the side. George Baily as captain, please... Glen Maxwell isn't an international cricketer by any means at this point in his career, let alone an opening bowling option. How Xavier Doherty gets a game is beyond me, he is the most mediocre player we have at the moment. His role is to bore the opposition into getting out to his straight break arm balls. Ben Hilfenhaus is not a first choice T20I player. Phil Hughes averages 50+ in T20 cricket, doesn't get a look in... Shaun Marsh, one of the most consistent T20 batsman going around, just gets ignored. Andrew McDonald is a proven T20 tonker and adds handy overs with the ball. Have we forgotten Aaron Finch? Where's young Mitchell Marsh? He averages nearly 33. And the bowlers... GB Hogg, need I say more. Mitchell Starc just tore through the FLT20 in England, rips Pakistan a new one and then they leave him out of the T20s? My side for the World T20 1. Phil Hughes 2. D. Warner 3. S. Marsh 4. S. Watson (c) 5. M. Hussey 6. D. Hussey 7. M. Wade (WK) 8. B. Hogg 9. M. Starc 10. P. Cummins 11. C. McKay Thoughts Roarers?
The Boundary Rider
Roar Rookie
It's hard to work out why Australia are so poor at T20 cricket. We've been early adapters with the Big Bash and see a lot of our players perform well in the IPL. You'd think that would correllate to strong international performances? It reminds me of our early struggles in the 50 over game We really were a very hot and cold One Day side throughout the 80s and it wasn't until we won a world cup that we saw a degree of consistancy start to creep into our 50 over performances. I wonder what it will take for the same to happen at T20 level?