New Delhi: Former Australian cricketer Shane Lee expressed disappointment over Australia resting their core group for the final One-Day International match against Pakistan in the aftermath of the series loss. The Australian team management rested five players from the first two matches in a bid to keep them fresh for the upcoming Border-Gavaskar Trophy against India.
Captain Pat Cummins, Steve Smith, Marnus Labuschagne, Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood missed the final ODI as a result. Pakistan bowlers once again outsmarted the second-string Australian line-up, skittling them to 140 for 10 at the Optus Stadium in Perth.
Pakistan eventually won by eight wickets to script their first ODI series win on Australian soil since 2002. It was a massive turnaround for the visitors after going down in a close contest in Melbourne, and it also marked Pakistan’s first series win under new skipper Mohammad Rizwan.
Shane Lee, who played 45 One-Day International matches for Australia between 1995 and 2001, said the fans weren’t served for the money they paid to watch the best Australian side, though he acknowledged the busy cricketing season across the globe.
“I am really torn … because it is the game that gave me the opportunity (to play for Australia). It is the thing that bought my house, so I am pretty proud of playing for Australia in that format,” Lee told Fox Cricket’s podcast The Follow On.
“But in saying that, these players now, the schedule is so busy and there are so many games, you need to manage how many games you can play so that they don’t burn themselves out. They need to be right for the big matches.
“But when I see a real second string team — and that is taking nothing away from the players playing in these matches — but it is not the number one side and I think as a spectator going along, you would feel slightly disappointed. If you pay money for a ticket, you want to see the best players play and I don’t think we saw that in recent games,” the 51-year-old added.
Australia to play three T20Is against Pakistan before India Tests
Australia will face Pakistan in three-match T20I series from November 14 to 18. Wicketkeeper-batter Josh Inglis, who led the ODI side in the final match in Perth, will continue to lead the team in the T20Is. The experienced campaigners Glenn Maxwell, Marcus Stoinis, and Sean Abbott will boast the team.
Regular T20I skipper Mitchell Marsh won’t be available for the whole series after he was included in Australia’s squad for the first Test against India, starting on November 22 in Perth.
Australia T20I squad vs Pakistan: Matthew Short, Jake Fraser-McGurk, Tim David, Cooper Connolly, Aaron Hardie, Glenn Maxwell, Marcus Stoinis, Sean Abbott, Josh Inglis (c & wk), Xavier Bartlett, Nathan Ellis, Spencer Johnson, Adam Zampa
Former Australian cricketer Shane Lee expressed disappointment over Australia resting their core group for the final One-Day International match against Pakistan in the aftermath of the series loss. Cricket Sports News: Latest Cricket News, Cricket Live Score, Sports Breaking News from Sports Today
