Thaindian News

Sydney, Mar. 26 (ANI): Noted cricket columnist Peter Roebuck feels that Australia’s 2011 World Cup campaign was deeply flawed, and believes that even before the quarterfinal exit to India, the writing was already on the wall.He believes that Australia were not quite good enough. Its sweat and toil was to no avail.

However, he says in his article for the Sydney Morning Herald, that the players could at least reflect that the trophy had been taken from them, not given away.

From India’s perspective, he says they fielded a powerful batting order, had a trio of spinners that were given a pitch they could use effectively, had a pace bowler (Zaheer Khan) who turned out to be the best in the match, and to top it all, fielded way beyond expectations.

“Ricky Ponting and his players scrapped hard and came within a wicket of putting their opponents under unbearable pressure,” Roebuck says.

“No matter how comfortable it might appear on paper (five wicket win), it was a close-run thing,” he adds.

He also says that Ponting deserves immense credit for his innings and for the grit he instilled in his charges.

“It was the innings of a determined leader able at the critical moment to tap into his remaining reserves of greatness. If it was his last as captain, then he leaves with head held high,” Roebuck says.

“In the field, too, the Australians fought tenaciously. The tactics were well conceived,” he adds.

The Australian campaign was deeply flawed in the sense that the team beat only one capable opponent, New Zealand, and spluttered even against the weakest sides.

He believes the team management erred in not playing both Mike and David Hussey in every match. They should have also dropped an out of form Cameron White and kept Steve Smith in the first eleven because he is inventive and combative and might have picked up a wicket.

In conclusion he says that it is time to look towards the next generation.

“The Australians never looked like prospective champions. Opponents feared them not because they could bat or bowl exceptionally well, but because they were Australian. The end of the World Cup cycle offers a chance to take stock. Clearly this ODI team has run its course,” he says.

The coach and selectors also need to be called to account. (ANI)