IND vs AUS | Australia, sweep at right stage of the innings, advises Michael Clarke
Michael Clarke has advised that the Australian cricket team should use sweeps wisely
|(ICC)
Michael Clarke has advised the visiting teams to use sweep shots at the right stage of the innings and not to overuse them after the defeat in the first game. Clarke further blasted Pat Cummins for his defensive approach saying that the field should have been placed close to the batter.
Australia are on verge of suffering a clean sweep at the hands of India in the Border Gavaskar Trophy as they have lost the first two matches against the Aussies. It was a close contest in the first innings as the visitors managed to score just one more run as compared to the oppositionās total. Further, they attempted playing sweep frequently on the second and third days of the play. Reflecting on the game, former Australian cricketer Michael Clarke has stated that the Australian team should play sweeps after recognizing the correct time to use it.Ā
"We havenāt adapted to conditions. Iām not saying donāt sweep in India, Iām saying the opposite. Iām saying you sweep at the right time, at the right stage of your innings, on the right pitch and, generally, with the spin,ā Clarke said on Sky Sports Radioās BSB.
āItās very hard to sweep against the spin when the ball is not bouncing. So, basics of batting and facing spin bowling in those conditions we are getting so wrong.ā
Australia set a target of 115 runs in the second innings for India but set a deep field while defending. The fielders were mostly positioned near the boundary line and Clarke blasted the visitors for their defensive approach.Ā
āIāve got to say, Iām not sure what happened with our tactics either. We had 100 runs on the board, at one stage Pat Cummins had four blokes on the boundary. Youāre either bowling India out for under 100, or youāre losing. If you lose in 20 overs or you lose in two days, itās irrelevant,ā he explained.Ā
āSo fielders get up, (put a) bat-pad off side, bat-pad leg side, slip. If the ball turns, if the ball bounces, if the ball shoots along the ground, if you make an error in judgment, you are getting out. Thatās what Australia had to do. We had mid-off back, mid-on back, deep point, deep square-leg ā what was I watching?.ā
