ICC T20 World Cup 2022: “I Was Hoping Things Would Click, But They Didn’t”- Shane Watson Left Speechless After Australia's Bizarre Team Selection

Following Australia’s unsuccessful T20 World Cup defence, Shane Watson claims that “the cruise” is over for national selectors, calling the decision to bench Mitchell Starc for the last pool game “quite strange.”

Australia was eliminated from the competition after finishing third in their group behind New Zealand and England, paying a price for a humiliating loss to the Kiwis in the first round.

The hosts of the competition tied their competitors for first place in terms of points, but they fell short in terms of net run rate since they failed to thoroughly humiliate opponents like Ireland and Afghanistan when they had the chance.

Shane Watson Criticizes Australian Selector’s Constant Chopping And Changing

“It is disappointing, there’s no question,” Shane Watson said of Australia’s World Cup defence.

“I was always very concerned in the lead-up to this T20 World Cup about the changes that were being made,” he said.

“I understand resting because there’s a lot of T20 cricket played in the lead-up to this tournament starting in a close proximity, so I understand they were trying to keep people fresh.

“But chopping and changing roles as significantly as they did was something that I couldn’t believe was happening.

“I was hoping things would click, but they didn’t.”

I Really Feel For Mitchell Starc: Shane Watson

When spearhead Mitchell Starc was pulled off the team for the last group match against Afghanistan, the squad’s lack of cohesion became apparent.

Starc has the speed and swing to help Australia get the quick wickets they needed, as he had already demonstrated with a number of blistering yorkers that were practically unplayable against Ireland. It was a puzzling decision.

“It was very bizarre,” Shane Watson said.

“I was gobsmacked that he missed out.

“Initially, when I heard it, I thought Mitchell Starc must be injured because if someone was going to be out for Kane Richardson to come in, I thought it’d be Pat Cummins.

“A lot of my friends and people I was commentating with, that was their perspective as well.

“It was very bizarre, and I really feel for Mitchell Starc because he’s turned it on for Australia in the big games in World Cups.

“To do that to one of your main guys, I feel really sorry for him.

“I think the majority of people around the world were blown away that Mitchell Starc missed out.

“Those things send shockwaves through a team, and unfortunately in a big game where the Aussies had to step up and dominate, they weren’t able to do it.”

Selectors Definitely Need To Take A Look At Themselves: Shane Watson

Shane Watson claims that as the fallout continues just a year after the Australians won the T20 World Cup in difficult circumstances, the focus must now go to McDonald and chairman of selectors George Bailey.

“He’s a selector, so the selectors definitely need to take a look at themselves,” Watson said of McDonald.

“Him and George Bailey, the big decisions that they made in the lead-in to that tournament, they have to live and die by the sword with the decisions they made.

“They’ve had a pretty cruisy ride over the last little while because the Australians have been playing really nicely, but now a T20 World Cup at home where the team didn’t perform as the group certainly can, the microscope will be on them, as it should be.

“There are a lot of questions that need to be answered by the coaches and the selection staff to be able to right the wrongs. It seems to be the same patterns that we’re not learning lessons from.”

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