Former captain Michael Clarke has criticised Australia’s “negative” method within the Test loss to an under-strength Indian workforce, saying the hosts, as an alternative of pushing aggressively for wins, appeared terrified of defeat.
Clarke, nevertheless, refused in charge workforce chief Tim Paine for the unthinkable Test sequence defeat at residence. An injury-ravaged India beat Australia by three wickets within the ultimate recreation in Brisbane on Tuesday to win the sequence 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 mentioned on Big Sports Breakfast.
Under Paine, Australia have competed in 23 Tests and have managed to win solely 11 of them. Two Test sequence defeats at residence in opposition to India make his file 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 mentioned it was the damaging mindset that pegged Australia again.
“At the tip 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 mentioned there was a time when the buck stopped with the captain nevertheless it shouldn’t be the case anymore since there are different professionals, who name the photographs within the Australian arrange.
“When I performed cricket, after 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 mentioned.
“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 advised foxsports.com.au.
“And look, there’s been lots written about Tim Paine behind the stumps. He’s grassed a couple of probabilities, however who hasn’t? You have a look at all of the keepers in historical past and I’m positive 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 mentioned he doesn’t discover something improper with Paine captaincy fashion.
“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 mentioned.
“(He’s a) brilliant keeper, his batting has been outstanding, and his captaincy really sound.”Paine, after the defeat on Tuesday, mentioned he desires to proceed as chief of the workforce since he has some “unfinished business” to settle.
