Lehmann takes time out to ponder collapses

Collapses. Why do they happen? It is a question the Australian leadership leave Bangladesh with, in urgent need of a solution. By taking time out from the India ODI tour preceding the Ashes, much as he did in 2013, the coach Darren Lehmann has given himself the chance to ponder this question in some detail, reports espncricinfo.com.

In Chittagong, it was a 7 for 79 stumble that should have had a greater influence on the final result than it did. In Dhaka, 6 for 41 was fatal in the final innings, while 4 for 33 and 4 for 42 set up the failure in their first.

In the aftermath of the squared series, the captain Steven Smith was not shy in airing his frustrations. Stating that they had again let themselves down, citing 15 collapses in their previous 14 Tests according to their internal team metrics. “That's not good enough for an Australian cricket team,” he added bluntly, adding they would have to sort it out before the Ashes.

Lehmann echoed the sentiment. “It's happening too often for a young group,” he said. “The first part of the batting collapses was with an older group if you like, and then we changed it around and we're still having them. It's seriously not their preparation or how they go about it. It's more the mental side of the game. We're working through that with a young group and trying to come up with some solutions.”

Inevitably, the personnel involved are coming under selection scrutiny. Glenn Maxwell is an interesting example. He earned a start in each innings in Bangladesh, and after a mini-wobble chasing 86 smashed an unbeaten 25 to finish off the job in Chittagong. Yet it is his position that appears most under threat.

Technically Maxwell wasn't there in the second Test, shuffled to No. 5 after Usman Khawaja was dropped. But Lehmann all but confirmed Khawaja will be back at first drop for the Ashes, averaging 76 in Australasia since his return to international ranks in November 2015.

 

 

Lehmann takes time out to ponder collapses

Collapses. Why do they happen? It is a question the Australian leadership leave Bangladesh with, in urgent need of a solution. By taking time out from the India ODI tour preceding the Ashes, much as he did in 2013, the coach Darren Lehmann has given himself the chance to ponder this question in some detail, reports espncricinfo.com. In Chittagong, it was a 7 for 79 stumble that should have had a greater influence on the final result than it did. In Dhaka, 6 for 41 was fatal in the final innings, while 4 for 33 and 4 for 42 set up the failure in their first. In the aftermath of the squared series, the captain Steven Smith was not shy in airing his frustrations. Stating that they had again let themselves down, citing 15 collapses in their previous 14 Tests according to their internal team metrics. Thats not good enough for an Australian cricket team, he added bluntly, adding they would have to sort it out before the Ashes. Lehmann echoed the sentiment. Its happening too often for a young group, he said. The first part of the batting collapses was with an older group if you like, and then we changed it around and were still having them. Its seriously not their preparation or how they go about it. Its more the mental side of the game. Were working through that with a young group and trying to come up with some solutions. Inevitably, the personnel involved are coming under selection scrutiny. Glenn Maxwell is an interesting example. He earned a start in each innings in Bangladesh, and after a mini-wobble chasing 86 smashed an unbeaten 25 to finish off the job in Chittagong. Yet it is his position that appears most under threat. Technically Maxwell wasnt there in the second Test, shuffled to No. 5 after Usman Khawaja was dropped. But Lehmann all but confirmed Khawaja will be back at first drop for the Ashes, averaging 76 in Australasia since his return to international ranks in November 2015.