Australia captain Steve Smith is unable to figure out why his batting line-up is falling apart in crunch situations across formats, admitting that it is happening way too often to his liking
Steve Smith. Pic/PTI
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Australia captain Steve Smith is unable to figure out why his batting line-up is falling apart in crunch situations across formats, admitting that it is happening way too often to his liking.
Chasing a modest target of 253, Australia lost their last eight wickets for 112 runs with seven of their batsmen failing to get to double digits to be bundled out for 202 in 43.1 overs.
"Well, it's happening a bit too often for my liking to be honest with you -- in all forms of cricket. We have had a lot of collapses and we need to stop it," a dejected Smith said at the post-match press conference.
However, he did not explain whether it has got do with poor technique while facing wrist spinners or the temperament -- a must for playing top-flight cricket.
"It's a hard to put my finger on but whatever it is. It needs to change and we need to make better decision when we are under pressure and start playing properly. It's not good enough," the skipper said.
Smith said they must try to execute their plans in their bid to hopes alive during the five-match series.
"The guys have trained and trained really well. It's now about getting in the middle and executing those when you are under pressure. This game we just couldn't get the partnerships, we are just making silly errors. You are not allowed to do so against a quality line-up like India."
The skipper's irritation was palpable when he said that talking won't help and they needed to go out there in the middle executing their plans.
"It's just easy to just sit here and say it needs to stay but when you get out in the middle, you've to change what you're doing because it's not working."
Asked whether they're panicking, he said: "Not panicking as such. I thought we panicked during last game a little bit.
Maybe the guys are trying to watch the ball too closely and forgetting about just playing the game."
Marcus Stoinis waged a lone battle with a 62 not out while Smith, in his 100th ODI, failed to convert his impressive 59 after with substitute Ravindra Jadeja taking a superb forward diving catch in the deep.
"(Marcus) Stoinis played vert well at the back end. But, someone in the top four, myself or Heady (Travis Head), particularly once we got in, had to go on and probably be there till the end. We didn't execute our skills well enough under pressure."
Australia have now lost their last 10 ODIs away from home.
They would hope that Aaron Finch (calf muscle injury) is match-fit for Indore as Hilton Cartwright has been a big letdown at the top with scores of 0-1-1 in three matches in India.
Wicketkeeper batsman Matthew Wade, who opened the gates for Kuldeep Yadav en route to a historic hattrick last night, is also struggling with 11 runs from two ODIs as Peter Handscomb may be drafted in for Indore.
"I think where you play, your top-4 needs to score the bulk of your runs. Today, we weren't good enough at it," he said last night.
On the conditions, he said the ball spun a little more as the game went on but the pace of the wicket remained the same throughout.
"Perhaps their spinners bowled a little bit slower - Chahal and Kuldeep bowled reasonably slow and tried to get whatever they could out of the surface. They got quite a few balls to spin sharply."
Smith however said the conditions could not be an excuse as both the teams had the same on offer.
"Both playing on the same surface. It is about adapting to whatever conditions you are dealing with and summing things up and communicating effectively among the team. I think we are doing that okay.
Execution has not been from the top drawer and that certainly is hurting his team's chances, admitted Smith. "We are just not executing our skills when we are out there in the middle and we need to start doing that. Against a quality team like India, if we are not scoring the runs we need to, we're not going to win many games of cricket."
Smith also praised Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Jasprit Bumrah for creating pressure up front.
"Bhuvi and Bumrah bowled very well up front with the new ball. They swung it both ways and challenged our defence.
Which is what you want from your new ball bowlers."
Kuldeep Yadav once again troubled the Aussies to return with a hattrick but the skipper said they played the chinaman reasonably well at times.
"In the last few overs actually, our tail-enders probably couldn't play him as well as the batters. Actually, I felt quite comfortable against him today. We weren't able to go on and close the game out."
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