AUSTRALIA SELECTIONS AND STRATEGY UNDER SCRUTINY AFTER A LOSS TO AFGHANISTAN

Australia’s high performance coach, Graeme Hick has defended Australia’s selections in the humiliating defeat to Afghanistan in the Under 19 World Cup.

Australia had made three changes despite winning the first match against Namibia by whopping margin of 101 runs. While captain Alex Gregory’s didn’t play because of stomach illness the other two changes seemed to indicate the rotation policy was still in place at the Under 19 level.

“Captain had a bad stomach, couple of guys that have brought injuries into the competition and there is only certain amount of workload that they can do building to the next part of the tournament” said Hick

Further indication Australia was still obeying the much critical rotation or performance management was that the opening bowler Billy Stanlake only bowled an opening spell of four overs in which he conceded only 11 runs and never returned to the bowling crease.

While initially Hick backed the captain decision stating “that’s what the captain decided that pace is easy to hit” he then also went on to add “also a bowler coming back with injury, even at worst or best, he would have bowled a couple more”.

The objective of the World Cup is also a debatable topic with Hick stating the other reason for changes was the team management wanted each player of the squad to participate in a game.  

“We wanted everyone to have an experience at the World Cup. We have strong squad and we pride ourselves on that. We also felt couple of players deserved a chance to play”

Hick also defended that such plans could deviate from the objective of winning the World Cup.

“It’s the plan we have planned to play it, I understand what you are saying but having said that we felt the squad we have got to win, we would have made two changes anyway. That was forced upon us. They didn’t seem like they were radical changes to us”.

Australia not only have to defeat group toppers Bangladesh on Wednesday but also hope their net run rate is substantial to ensure they progress through to the quarter finals stage.

With Australia facing a cut throat situation Hick was asked if Australia will still employ the strategy of playing all the players in squad or picking the best eleven.

“We will be playing with our best eleven that’s what that is we will sit down and choose that tomorrow”.