Australia head coach Andrew McDonald has backed his batting unit after the team lost the Test series to South Africa in Cape Town.
Australia suffered back-to-back batting collapses against the Proteas. McDonald said his side still had reasons to stay positive after the tour.
“It’s still a very good cricket team with a lot of very good players in there. If you looked at the batting unit, I think we walk away in a stronger position,” McDonald said.
He pointed to Cameron Green, who is returning from injury, and Josh Inglis, who played another away Test. McDonald said Inglis now has two away Test hundreds.
“We know how difficult it is to play away. There’s a reason why a lot of teams don’t win on the road. It’s not an excuse. We felt as though we’re good enough to come here and win this series,” he said.
Steve Smith missed the series-deciding Test at Newlands with a neck problem. He failed a final fitness test, even after trying a pain-killing injection.
McDonald said the choice not to play was made by Smith himself. He said the medical team and Smith gave it every chance, but the batter was not ready the next morning.
“So that decision of Steve’s, I think, was the right decision. He wasn’t ready to go in that scenario,” McDonald was quoted as saying by cricket.com.au.
Australia captain Pat Cummins also backed Smith. He said Smith was confident he would be fit and wanted to wait until the last minute.
“Unfortunately, he just didn’t feel quite right. He knows his body better than anyone else. I was definitely disappointed,” Cummins said.
McDonald said he expects Smith to play in the first Test against New Zealand in Perth next month. He said the team first wants to understand the neck issue and stop it from coming back.
“There will be Shield cricket, there’s opportunities for him. He’ll be well prepared for the Test match,” McDonald said.
The coach also admitted that Marnus Labuschagne did not make the most of his chance in South Africa. He said the batter still has the ability to find his form again.
“We believed in ‘Marn’ for this tour. We’ll have to reassess that as we move forward. There’s still a very good cricketer there. But he hasn’t taken his opportunity on this tour,” McDonald said.
Australia now face a four-Test home series against New Zealand. Smith’s fitness and the middle-order batting line-up are among the issues the selectors must settle.
Source: this article is based on reporting by IOL Sport. Image: IOL Sport. Written with the help of AI and published by the Tzaneen Voice Sports desk. See our Editorial Standards.
Tiyani Mathebula writes about sport for Tzaneen Voice. Tiyani covers Bafana Bafana, the Springboks, the Proteas and the PSL, along with athletics, tennis and local club sport. Match reports and previews focus on results, team news, fixtures and what each game means for South African teams and fans.