NEWS
Follow UsAustralian bowlers have taken quite a beating in their last five games, conceding totals of 338, 416, 315, 281 (second innings) and 399. They have been without some of their frontline bowlers, who are going to feature in the forthcoming World Cup, but it’s still a cause of concern for the five-time champions.
On Sunday (September 24), the likes of Spencer Johnson, Josh Hazlewood, Sean Abbott, Cameron Green and Adam Zampa were taken to the cleaners in the second ODI in Indore. Apart from Ruturaj Gaikwad, every Indian batter had fun and amassed 399/5 in their 50 overs. In response, Australia were bundled out for 217.
"We've obviously just not executed as well as we would have liked. It's all well and good to say that we'll take learnings out of these games and stuff like that, but we do need to execute better as a whole,” said Abbott, who registered figures of 1/91 in his 10 overs.
"It showed today when we were bowling, and it was a little bit the same in South Africa as well, as soon as we missed the stumps we were punished."
Most of the Australian bowlers haven’t played much cricket going into the World Cup. Mitchell Starc (groin injury) hasn’t played an ODI for more than six months, while Pat Cummins missed the entire South Africa series. The Australian captain did play the first ODI but was rested for the second match.
Spin-bowling all-rounders Glenn Maxwell (ankle injury/paternity leave) and Ashton Agar (calf injury/paternity leave) have also been out of action for a while. Agar played the first of five ODIs against South Africa but has missed the last six games and is still in Australia. Meanwhile, Maxwell hasn’t played any international cricket since April.
Josh Hazlewood and Adam Zampa have been around but their numbers have also been terrible. Australia’s death bowling, in particular, has been abysmal but Abbott feels they weren’t too bad in Indore.
"Although we went for 400 again today, I thought the death bowling was pretty good. It can still be improved a lot. But like I've mentioned a couple of times already, our execution and bringing those stumps into play, owning our lengths and putting pressure on the batters that way certainly has to improve and I have no doubt that we've got a very skilled attack."
What’s more, Australia have also struggled to pick wickets in the powerplay. "I'd had a poor powerplay, had a pretty good powerplay last game, but I pride myself on the areas that I bowl and putting pressure on the batsman that way," Abbott said.
"I've just noticed in the last and this tour so far, in these first two games, then in South Africa, the batters are just too good. As soon as you get off the stumps or pitching outside leg, they're not going to miss out.
"I feel like I've made some of the same mistakes a couple of games in a row now. But I still feel like my game's in a good place. And I'm going in the right direction, I've just got to get out there and do it. And I know a couple of other guys feel the same. So whilst it's not ideal if you're an Aussie supporter, we're very confident still.
"But we certainly don't disregard the results and how we've performed because we know there's a lot of work to do."
