ICC T20 World Cup 2022: They Unfortunately Just Didn’t Get It Right – Matthew Hayden On Australia's World Cup Campaign

Former Australia National Cricket Team opening batsman Matthew Hayden has said that Aaron Finch & Co. “just didn’t get it right” during their ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2022 campaign. The legendary batter has also called for an overhaul of Australia’s T20I team, asserting selectors must follow the same ruthless approach as two decades ago to revitalize the team.

Australia National Cricket Team entered the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2022, which is being played in Australia, as favourites to win the competition. However, the defending champions failed to qualify for the semi-finals due to their inferior Net Run Rate.

ICC Teams Rankings | ICC Players Rankings

SHORTS

View More

Your daily dose of cricket!

Loading...

Australian T20I captain Aaron Finch, who has already retired from ODIs, has said that he is looking forward to playing in the upcoming season of the Big Bash League (BBL) before making a call on retirement. However, CA officials will reportedly pick a new T20I captain as they turn their eye to the 2024 T20 World Cup in the USA and Caribbean. Also, Team Australia are not scheduled to play any T20I series until next August.

Meanwhile, Matthew Hayden said that there has to be “some freshness” in Australia’s T20I squad. He also pointed to the surprise axing of Steve Waugh and Mark Waugh from the ODI cricket in 2002 as a model, which came just years after the success in 1999.

“There has to be some freshness. One of the great strengths of Australian cricket has been its ability to be able to recognise when to make that gear change into a different playing roster.

“A little bit like Mark Waugh giving way to someone like myself after World Cup campaigns, it’s always been quite ruthless in preparing for the next World Cup.

“They are the premium events that everyone across the world plans for. And Australia unfortunately just didn’t get it right,” he said as quoted by the West Australian.

Strategically not playing Mitchell Starc ahead of that game was really significant as well – Matthew Hayden

Australia made a shock decision, which has been heavily criticised, to drop pace spearhead Mitchell Starc from the playing XI for the final Super 12 game of the side against Afghanistan and they included Kane Richardson as his replacement in the team. Talking about Australia’s decision, Matthew Hayden said:

“Strategically not playing Mitchell Starc, our premium bowler, ahead of that game was really significant as well.”

Hayden’s comments came after the chief selector George Bailey defended the move to drop Mitchell Starc, saying it was a tactical decision.

“Every time an Australian team goes into a major series or tournament … the expectations are very high,” Bailey said.

“We’re disappointed we’re not taking part from this point on in the semis. Specifically to Starcy … It was a tactical decision, it was a match-up decision. People can make of that what they will. And they are.”

While talking about Aaron Finch, Bailey said:

“I thought he played well and has bought himself time (to decide his future). People were judging the batsmanship and not the overall leadership and captaincy package and the disruption that would have caused if you shifted.”

Also Read: Australia Announce Squads For Series Against England, West Indies