We Were Scared To Lose: Michael Clarke Questions Negative Aussie Approach

Former Australian Captain Michael Clarke has criticized the approach of Australia which looked negative against an injury-prone Indian team in the Border Gavaskar Series. He insisted that the Australian team, instead of pushing aggressively for a win against the inexperienced Indian team seemed scared of losing the test. India won the Border Gavaskar Series 2-1 against a full-strength Australian side.

“I thought we might have been a tad negative at certain stages throughout because we were scared to lose versus attack hard and look to win the game,”  Michael Clarke said on Big Sports Breakfast. Clarke also refused to blame Tim Paine’s leadership for an unthinkable Test series defeat at home.

Tim Paine’s Leadership Assessment By Michael Clarke

Under the leadership of Tim Paine in 23 tests so far, Australia has managed to win only 11 of those tests. To make things worse, Australia has lost both of their home series against India under Tim Paine’s captaincy.

He is now criticized by most of the experts around the cricketing world for being less aggressive in the last game where Australia’s task was to win the test to regain the trophy. He was also sloppy with the glovework behind the stumps in crucial moments which we often do not originate with him as he has set high standards.

“at the end of the day, whether we lost with 20 overs left in the game or on the last ball of the game, it didn’t matter. we had to win that game to win that trophy.
I sort of feel we should have approached the first ball of that game to the last ball of that game with a bit more of that attitude” added Michael Clarke.

Brett Lee In Defence Of Tim Paine’s Leadership

Brett Lee jumped to Tim Paine’s defences stating that Paine had taken over the captaincy with good qualities. Brett Lee mentioned that all the keepers in the history of cricket would have some leaner periods and told that Tim Paine is a brilliant Keeper.

He also expressed his views on Paine’s batsmanship skills stating that he has the best techniques among the current Australian team along with Marnus Labuschagne and he has performed well with the bat too.

“his captaincy has been really good. as I said in Sydney there were maybe a few other things he could have tried but put yourself in that situation- he’s under the pump, he’s had a few players go down as well, there are chances when they’re trying to take those last five wickets” Lee said

“he’s a brilliant keeper, his batting has been outstanding, and his captaincy really sound,” Lee added.

Meanwhile, Tim Paine has told he will continue his captaincy even after the defeat on Tuesday which is a good sign.