Cricket Australia selector Tony Dodemaide said on Wednesday (February 18) that they would conduct a full review of the team’s disappointing World Cup campaign after it failed to progress beyond the group stage for the first time since 2009.
Australia were ruled out of the Super Eight race after the match between Zimbabwe and Ireland was washed out yesterday. Their chances of qualification were virtually over following their defeat to Sri Lanka. Prior to that, the 2021 champions suffered a shock loss to Zimbabwe.
“It’s really disappointing the way the tournament has unfolded,” Dodemaide said on Wednesday from the team hotel in Sri Lanka.
“But we will need some time, and will take some time, once we finish our final commitment – it’s important that we finish strongly on Friday against Oman – then we’ll return and analyse it fully.”
On the day of the Sri Lanka match, Steve Smith was officially added to the World Cup squad as Josh Hazlewood’s replacement. However, he did not play in the match in which Australia lost eight wickets in the final ten overs. Dodemaide commented on that decision, saying: “We see him primarily at the top of the order and that’s where he’s come into the squad as cover. He was only really available for game three, which was the game in which we had our best-performing opening pair, ‘Bison’ (Marsh) and Head, who did extremely well. If we had more moving parts and had to think differently, then that’s another story, but for now Steve retains his place as cover for that opening position.”
On Friday, Australia will play their final match of this year’s World Cup against Oman.
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