Australia’s campaign in the T20 World Cup 2024 ended prematurely, with the team failing to advance past the Super 8 stage. Former Australian captain Mark Taylor has pinpointed the omission of veteran batter Steve Smith as a critical factor in the team’s downfall.
In their final Super 8 match, Australia faced a significant defeat against India, which was compounded by Afghanistan‘s victory over Bangladesh, sealing Australia’s fate. Taylor, reflecting on the team’s performance, noted the glaring absence of Smith in conditions that demanded technical proficiency.
“I still think Australia should have picked Steve Smith and I thought that when they first left him out of the squad,” Taylor remarked in an interview with World Wide Of Sports. “If you look at the Afghanistan game, when you get a slow, turning wicket as they did, I would want Steve Smith in my side. He has the tools to play well in those conditions more than most players in that Australian side, if not all of them.”
Australia’s chase of a modest 149 against Afghanistan was derailed by a series of batting collapses. Glenn Maxwell‘s valiant 54 was the sole bright spot in an otherwise dismal performance. This defeat underscored the team’s batting frailties, particularly on turning pitches found in the Caribbean.
Mark Taylor emphasized the need for a player of Smith’s caliber, who could anchor the innings on tricky surfaces. “That’s where I think Australia missed out. Smith batting anywhere from four to seven would have been better than the players that we had on a slow, turning wicket. If you get those sorts of surfaces, you want players who are good batters and not just necessarily good hitters,” Taylor added.
Taylor also questioned the team management’s decision-making process, particularly the exclusion of promising talent Jake Fraser-McGurk in favor of the experienced David Warner. Fraser-McGurk had a standout IPL season, amassing 330 runs with a remarkable strike rate of nearly 235, yet he was left out of the main squad.
“With the Fraser-McGurk and Warner thing, I think that was a 50/50 call. You could have gone either way and mounted a good case either way on who should play,” Taylor observed. Warner, who had previously announced his retirement from Test and ODI cricket, confirmed that the T20 World Cup would be his final international outing. His retirement marked the end of an illustrious career, although his form and fitness had come under scrutiny leading up to the tournament.
Australia’s early exit has sparked widespread debate and introspection, with Taylor’s comments adding fuel to the discussion. The decision to overlook Steve Smith, whose adaptability and technical prowess could have steadied the ship, is likely to be scrutinized as the team looks to rebuild and learn from this disappointing campaign.
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