Cricket http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Australia-c746 not to push panic button over England losses – Cricket News Update
Cricket Australia’s team performance director Pat Howard on Friday admitted that the recent 4-0 ODI drubbing at the hands of http://www.senore.com/Cricket/England-c56013, just 12 months before the Ashes series, was a disappointing result for the players as well as the management. However, he
cautioned against pressing the panic button.
"...it's not panic stations but we're obviously very disappointed...there are no excuses," said http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Howard-c63371 in media reports on Friday, making it clear that "anyone looking for places to hide won't find one."
Clarke-led Australia was put to sword by traditional rivals England in the recently concluded five-match ODI series, at the latter’s home - losing convincingly by 0-4. The Aussies might have lost their No. 1 ODI status as well, had weather gods not interfered,
washing out the third one-dayer at Edgbaston, Birmingham, thus saving the tourists from a 5-0 whitewash, which would have seen Cook and his men usurp the Kangaroos as the world’s No 1 ODI side.
The three-time reigning world champions seemed quite timid all through the series, where not only their batting failed to click, their bowling also looked out of flair.
“Obviously that tour wasn't acceptable and we've got to improve a lot in the next 12 months,” said Howard, after the team returned home.
“We don't make any excuses for our performances in England. We're not going to throw out that it was a development tour. Four-nil wasn't good enough," the CA performance director insisted.
Besides poor form of players, Australia is also facing injury concerns, with vice-captain http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Brett-Lee-c48419 and teenage pace sensation Pat Cummins, all down with muscle strains sustained during the winless trip of England.
While http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Watson-c96326 (calf) and Cummins (side strain) will be available for selection after they have recovered from respective injuries, there will be no Lee for the Kangaroos in future following the veteran’s announcement to retire from international cricket with
immediate effect.
Australia will next play http://www.senore.com/Cricket/United-Arab-Emirates-c3033, in what will be Pakistan’s home limited-overs series. The CA selectors will meet next week to pick up the squad for the itinerary, comprising of three ODIs and three T20
Internationals.
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