AUS vs PAK: ‘Batters are going really hard… high-quality bowling can get you exposed:’ Michael Hussey on Australia’s batting woes | Cricket News
On Sunday, Australia lost eight wickets to Pakan. It was a comprehensive defeat as the hosts were bundled at 140 in the first innings at Perth and the visitors chased the total with ease to reger their first series win (2-1) in 22 years. Incidentally, this is the first time in a three-match series or more that none of the Australian batters have gone past 50.
“Playing a lot of T20 cricket and seeing what’s happening around the world, batters these days are going really hard – playing high-risk games,” Michael Hussey would observe on commentary during Pakan vs Australia’s third ODI. “When it comes off, it looks great and it’s exciting for everyone to watch. But when it doesn’t in the face of high-quality bowling, you can get exposed.”
“You’ve got a bit of time, you can build that innings … turn that 20-30 into a 50-60 and then hopefully an 80-100, but that’s part of the development. 50 overs is sort of that in-between game … you do have a bit more time,” Hussey added.
Former England cricket Michael Vaughan too would chip in and remark that he cannot recall when an Australian batting lineup looked as fragile as it did in the series. “Let’s be honest, for three games I don’t remember seeing an Australian batting lineup look so exposed.” Three games on the trot against a bit of pace, a bit of movement – it’s not express, it’s not rapid. But they’ve been completely exposed.”
“I’m just looking at the whole series, the Australian batting line up have been six down at the MCG inside the 21st over, six down at the Adelaide Oval inside the 26th over. And six down here inside the 21st over again,” he said.
“The batters just didn’t get the runs on the board in the last couple of games. Guys have their own way of batting, but it’s important to put together runs, stay out there and take the innings deep, and get the results,” Australian stand-in skipper Jos Inglis would acknowledge after the game.
