It would be easy to pinpoint the final three overs of Australia’s stunning World Twenty20 loss, where 48 runs were leaked, as the cause of the defeat.
Too easy, Australian skipper George Bailey argues, because foundations of the loss had been laid long before Darren Sammy sent the antepenultimate ball of the match into a delirious Dhaka crowd.
The six-wicket defeat follows a first-up loss to Pakistan and all but certainly ends Australia’s hopes of escaping the group stage.
But Bailey struggled to blame his left-arm pace trio of Doug Bollinger, who gave up 11 runs in the 48th over, Mitchell Starc, who leaked 19 in the 49th, or James Faulkner, who coughed up the consecutive sixes which ultimately saw the Windies pass Australia’s target of 179.
Instead Bailey pointed to another lacklustre batting display, which was flattered by another blistering Glenn Maxwell cameo (45 off 22) and valuable runs to Brad Hodge (35), as well as more sloppy fielding.
“I think your mind tends to track back to the most recent thing in the bowling (as the cause for the loss),” Bailey said.
“But once again I don’t think we batted particularly well.
“Just having a quick think about it then I think all of the top six played pretty ordinary shots – poor shots at inappropriate times.
“I think the fact that we scraped to 178 was pleasing given that I don’t think we batted particularly well.”
Bailey felt more ordinary fielding, which was so costly in their loss to Pakistan, let Australia down immensely as well.
Chris Gayle smashed 53 off 35 balls to get the run chase off to a flying start – but he could have been dismissed for 26 when wicketkeeper Brad Haddin missed a relatively simple stumping chance.
But there were other, less noticeable, errors that hurt Australia.
“Once again we probably let ourselves down in the field with some chances,” Bailey added.
“That comes back to bite you harder in T20 than most formats. The repercussions of that are so instant.
“I’m sure there’s things we can do differently with the ball and there’d be guys who’d like to have better overs again and do something a little different.
“But I don’t think you can lay the blame just on the bowlers. Certainly all three disciplines were once again not up to the standards that we’ve set.”
Despite facing the likelihood of being bounced out of World T20 in the group stages, Bailey insists that there aren’t many areas that need to be addressed urgently.
“The balance (of the team) is right, there’s no doubt about that,” he said.
“We’ve just lost two close games in a tournament where you can’t afford to lose two close games.”
Ash
Guest
LOL johnno are you seriously that half-witted ? do you even know what the TV ratings actually are ? unless you can publish some figures you have no credibility at all
Broken-hearted Toy
Guest
Yes, I agree. There has been some very close matches.
Blaze
Guest
"Ticker tape"
AlanKC
Guest
He would have been shot if he'd bowled Muirhead in the second last over but he should be shot for not bowling him out earlier in the game (and the same for leaving Watson with 1 up his sleeve).
Naresh Kumar Sharma
Guest
Time for Bailey to go and make mercurial Glen Maxwell captain who is a brilliant batter and tremendous fielder. During the match against West Indies, one of the Aussie fielders midfielded at which Maxwell's expression was of great annoyance and anger as it shows his adrenaline working very high and wanting desperately for his country to win the match. Australian Selection panel should pick players who are mentally tough and deliver in crunch situations.Another Aussie Player, Aaron finch threw away his wicket at critical stage of the game needs to learn a great deal in terms of closing out the game.
Tom from Perth
Guest
Yeah he's getting way too much flack at the moment Nudge, he deserves better, he just hasn't had enough cricket recently.
Tom from Perth
Guest
Good point Toy. Captaining the Shield final is way better for his development than t20. I think he or Cameron White should be the next t20 captain. I have no faith in Bailey.
Broken-hearted Toy
Guest
So if Bailey has chosen an inexperienced leggie for the second last over and he'd got tonked for a few sixes, you think that would have been good captaincy? Bailey can't win, Starc is the first choice seamer in the team for crying out loud. Sometimes, you have to take your hat off to the batsmen.
Beauty of a geek brains of a bimbo(atgm)
Guest
I blame bailey for this loss
Worlds Biggest
Guest
178 is a good total to defend. Starc didn't have a good night with the ball nor did Hads with the gloves. I don't why Bailey went with Starc at the end. Why didn't he use Watto or Muirhead ? Australia had their noses in front but poor bowling and lack of a plan cost them the game.
Broken-hearted Toy
Guest
Naresh, I think that the Aussie selectors want to get Steve Smith settled long-term into the test team. Him playing and skippering in the Shield final is more important for that aim and for his development (captaincy potential for test team) than playing in the World T20.
Tom from Perth
Guest
Sounds like Jackson Bird is the bowler you're looking for Deano. For mine, he'd be in for dougie and smith in for bailey (and to captain). Cameron White would be the other option but he's a top order batsman and we have three locked in already. Generally, people should give Starc a break. He's brilliant, just had no cricket for the last year.
Naresh Kumar Sharma
Guest
The problem about Bailey is besides his boring and insipid captaincy, his batting in crunch situations has been awful. In the first match against Pakistan, he failed to shepherd the Australian innings after Aussies were well and truly cruising to win the match. He takes too much time to get into the groove which hampers the momentum especially in matches at crucial stages of the game in the world cup. Despite being touted as good player of spin, he was dismissed in both the matches against Pakistan and West Indies at very delicate stage of the matches against spin bowling which resulted in pushing Australia back. At the most Bailey is merely ordinary player. I think Australia should include Steve Smith who can bat aggressively and also bowl his leg-spinners. Aussie need payers with flair and X-factor like Adam Gilchrist, Hayden and Ponting.to deliver on the big stage.
Jules
Roar Rookie
Yes, two games against one team that's already qualified and another that can't qualify. We won't be proving many points unless we destroy them both and the unthinkable happens to let us through to the semis: Bangladesh destroy Pakistan (and the Windies lose to Pakistan).
Jules
Roar Rookie
Inverarity. I've said this before: the fact that Inverarity is an ex schoolmaster at elite private schools and Bailey was "school captain" at an elite Tasmanian private school is too much of a coincidence for me. Cue all sorts of stuff about leadership skills that were supposedly baked-in when he was 17 in a very different environment to the Australian cricket team and you have your answer...
Jules
Roar Rookie
+1, I was thinking exactly the same thing after the end of the game last night. Keeping cool and smiling all the time looks bad when you limp out of a tournament you were a hot favourite for.
Atko
Guest
Agreed! Just give it to Watto or Haddin and be done with it. It was such a nothing night of captaincy. No thought or imagination, just going through the motions. I put the loss squarely on Bailey's shoulders.
Broken-hearted Toy
Guest
Could have, but Sammy is a good finisher, he's done this before. All the momentum was with the hitters.
Broken-hearted Toy
Guest
Have you looked at Hogg's T20I stats? They are rank! He is highly unlikely to suddenly do well.
Broken-hearted Toy
Guest
He's bowled poorly under pressure though in 2 matchers, hit me stuff in the last overs. That's what Naresh is pointing out. I don't think it's just down to form as his opening overs have been good. The only way to learn how to bowl under pressure is to bowl under pressure so it will be a good learning experience for him.