Former captain Michael Clarke has criticised Australia’s “negative” strategy within the Test loss to an under-strength Indian staff, saying the hosts, as an alternative of pushing aggressively for wins, appeared frightened of defeat.
Clarke, nonetheless, refused in charge staff chief Tim Paine for the unthinkable Test collection defeat at residence. An injury-ravaged India beat Australia by three wickets within the closing recreation in Brisbane on Tuesday to win the collection 2-1 and retain the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.
“I thought we might have been a tad negative at certain stages throughout because we were scared to lose versus attack hard and look to win the game,” Clarke stated on Big Sports Breakfast.
Under Paine, Australia have competed in 23 Tests and have managed to win solely 11 of them. Two Test collection defeats at residence towards India make his report look worse.
Paine, who took over from Steve Smith in 2018 after the ball-tampering scandal in South Africa, is copping criticism for not solely the 1-2 defeat but additionally for his sloppy work behind the stumps.
However, Clarke stated it was the detrimental mindset that pegged Australia again.
“At the top of the day, whether or not we misplaced with 20 overs left within the recreation or on the final ball of the sport, it didn’t matter. We needed to win that recreation to win that trophy.
“I sort of feel we should have approached the first ball of that game to the last ball of that game with a bit more of that attitude.”
Clarke stated there was a time when the buck stopped with the captain but it surely shouldn’t be the case anymore since there are different professionals, who name the pictures within the Australian arrange.
“When I performed cricket, once I grew up watching my father … the captain was accountable within the groups I performed in. Through that transition of me captaining Australia, that modified.
“There had become a chairman of selectors that had more pull, there had become a high performance manager that had more pull, there had become a head coach who had more pull,” he stated.
“So now, who is driving the bus? This is my point.”
Former pacer Brett Lee too jumped to Paine’s defence.
“I think since he’s taken over the captaincy he’s shown real good leadership qualities,” Lee informed foxsports.com.au.
“And look, there’s been rather a lot written about Tim Paine behind the stumps. He’s grassed a couple of probabilities, however who hasn’t? You take a look at all of the keepers in historical past and I’m certain there can be lots who had leaner durations behind the stumps.
“With the bat, you can’t fault him. He goes along with Marnus Labuschagne as having one of the best techniques in the team. He stood up and took on the Indian players.”
Lee stated he doesn’t discover something mistaken with Paine captaincy model.
“His captaincy has been really good. As I said, in Sydney there were maybe a few other things he could have tried, but put yourself in that situation, he’s under the pump, he’s had a few players go down as well, there’s chances (gone begging) when they’re trying to take those last five wickets,” he stated.
“(He’s a) brilliant keeper, his batting has been outstanding, and his captaincy really sound.”Paine, after the defeat on Tuesday, stated he desires to proceed as chief of the staff since he has some “unfinished business” to settle.
