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| July 10, 2005 | Sunday | Jumadi-us-Sani 2, 1426 |
Australia on right track, insists coach: Second ODI today
LONDON, July 9: Australia coach John Buchanan maintained the one-day world champions were on course to peak in time for the Ashes despite an unusually poor run of results since arriving in England.
Australia, who take on England in the second match of a three-game limited overs series at Lord’s on Sunday, lost Thursday’s opener at Headingley by nine wickets — the biggest winning margin by a team batting second in 35 years of one-day games between the two countries.
That followed last month’s Triangular Series where Australia suffered a stunning defeat against Bangladesh in Cardiff.
During that tournament they both won and lost against England before tying last Saturday’s Lord’s final after letting the hosts off the hook when they’d collapsed to 33 for five.
But Australia have won the last eight Ashes Test series against England and Buchanan told reporters at Lord’s on Saturday: “We are on the right track.
“Part credit to England,” said the former Queensland and Middlesex coach of a team that’s won its last five Test series.
“But it’s more in our house to make sure that’s rectified. We could choose to make it a problem but I think the calibre of this side will choose to make it a challenge.
“I’m looking forward to the Tests. It’s now our time, our turn to deliver the goods,” Buchanan added.
Marcus Trescothick led England’s victorious chase at Headingley with an unbeaten 104, his first international hundred in any form of cricket against Australia after the likes of Glenn McGrath had previously capitalised on uncertainty outside off-stump and a lack of footwork.
But Buchanan maintained flaws in the Somerset left-handed opener’s technique remained.
“In the first 10 overs, there were 16 plays and misses including two chances, including him caught off a no-ball. There’s enough evidence to suggest what we said before was accurate.”
Experienced fast bowler Jason Gillespie has had a tough time so far, his lack of success summed up by 10 wicketless overs for 66 runs on Thursday.
After the game Australia captain Ricky Ponting said Gillespie might be left out at Lord’s although a thigh injury to pace bowling all-rounder Shane Watson has now made that less likely.
“Form is often confused with results. Form is to do with technique, physical approach, mental preparation and tactical skills,” Buchanan explained.
“At the end of all those, you get some results. What he (Gillespie) hasn’t got at the moment is results but he hasn’t lost his ability.”
More encouraging for Australia has been the return to cricket of legendary leg-spinner Shane Warne, who last month announced he was separating from his wife Simone, the mother of his three children.
Subsequently Warne, captaining English county Hampshire, took a break from all cricket.
But on Saturday, in his first match back against Middlesex, he scored his second first-class hundred of his career and second this season.
“I never had any doubt Shane would be mentally ready for the upcoming series,” Buchanan said. “He’s obviously enjoying the English summer at the moment and no doubt he’ll send down a few overs which will keep the mind, body and spirit in good shape for when he joins us in a couple of days’ time.”
However, all sport in Britain has been overshadowed by the London Underground and bus bombs on Thursday.
In the past, safety fears have prompted Australia to pull out of fixtures in Pakistan and Sri Lanka but Buchanan said the team were content to stay put.
“From an Australian team perspective all our hearts and minds go out to the people that have suffered incredible losses through these bombings.
“Cricket Australia makes sure all the relevant authorities are contacted and keep us very well informed. At this point in time we’re very satisfied with the responses, we are going on and want to play these games.”
Trescothick meanwhile insisted England, who won a good toss at Headingley, could win when conditions weren’t an issue.
“We have to do it on a wicket that’s fair to both sides, there’s every chance we could do that tomorrow.
“Australia are the only team we are ever judged against. If you don’t do well there’s always that thing of out can’t play against the best team.
“That’s something for me to deal with and hopefully I’ve dealt with it better this summer than I have ever done against them.
“I don’t sense a different mood from them, I sense a different mood from us. Without a doubt, that’s the biggest difference.
“Our results over the last 18 months have shown we’ve improved mentally as a team and our game dramatically.”—AFP
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