Assistant coach Brad Haddin questions Australian team's playing style in ODI cricket

The assistant coach of the Australian cricket team Brad Haddin feels that they have been left behind and are playing catch-up leading int the World Cup slated to be played in England. Despite the team’s win against India in the first ODI of the three-match series at SCG, former gloveman believes that they are well behind in their build-up to a title defence in the UK in May-July this year.

Defending World Cup champions Australia had a disastrous 2018, where they won just two from 13 ODIs and as a result, lost five bilateral series. What adds to the misery is the fact that in the course of the last two years the Men in Yellow have used 32 players and this number goes up by two following the inclusion of left-hander Usman Khawaja and veteran Peter Siddle who made 50-overs format comeback after eight years.

The World Cup winner believes that team’s batting woes are even more problematic as Australia averaged just 27.68 runs per wicket with the bat in 2018 — its lowest since 1997.

I think we’ve just played like we’re a bit scared

“I think it’s our style of play, to be honest. The game’s moved forward since the 2015 World Cup and I don’t think we’ve quite moved that way with the trends of the game, so from our point of view it’s making sure that we get our style right — you’ve got to score 300 plus to be competitive,” the 41-year-old was quoted as saying to Fox Sports.

“I think we’ve just played like we’re a bit scared. But we know in one-day cricket you’ve got to make sure that you’re playing brave and moving the game forward. Is that the style that’s going to win you a World Cup? They’re really stuck because going the power option very rarely have they been able to bat the 50 overs. I think they’ve gone too much to the extreme” he further added.

The second ODI between India and Australia will be played on January 15 in Adelaide Oval. Currently, Australia is leading the three-match series with 1-0 following their 34 runs win in Sydney on Saturday. The third and final ODI will be played at the iconic Melbourne Cricket Ground on January 18.

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