Michael Clarke laments team’s poor fielding display – Cricket News Update
Skipper Michael Clarke lamented his team’s below average fielding performance against India on Sunday, after the Australians lost their first game of the ongoing CB tri-series by 4 wickets, played at the Adelaide Oval.
"We were probably 20 short with the bat. We were also horrible in the field. We were very sloppy. I don't think we executed our skills again at the death," Clarke said, referring to the last overs of the match, when Indian captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni smashed
a spectacular six off Clint McKay, and with six runs needed off three balls, was caught at the square leg boundary on a waist-high no-ball.
"Everyone is pretty down and disappointed. We thought we had a great opportunity to win that game. But yeah, look you learn from it,” said the 30-year old, commenting on how players sometimes need a shock in order to galvanize themselves to improve and perform
better.
Attributing the fielding slip-ups to lack of focus, Clarke refused to put the blame on any particular player, saying that he, along with Ricky Ponting and Dave Warner, had fumbled a few balls too.
"I think it's concentration more than anything else (…) We just got to make sure we are concentrating and we are ready for every ball (…) We have no excuse for our performance tonight. We were just not good enough," he observed.
The right-hander developed a hamstring problem in his right leg while fielding, and was seen hobbling during the latter part of the match. Admitting that it was a little “sore”, he confirmed that he was due for a scan on Monday, and hoped that it would be
nothing serious.
While he refrained from playing the blame game, the captain was all praises for the performance of debutant Peter Forrest, who scored a spectacular 66 during Australia’s innings.
He also remarked on Dhoni’s impressive performance, and added that the “great” Sachin Tendulkar, who was rested for the match in question, ought to be part of any squad which was worthy of being called India’s best team.
Australia is due to play their 4th match of the series against Sri Lanka on February 17 at the Sydney Cricket Ground, hoping to bounce back from the disappointment.