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| Sunday, 20 January 2002 |
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Knives hovering over non-performing Australian cricketers BRISBANE, Australia, Jan 19 (AFP) - Australian cricket coach John Buchanan gave a strong hint Friday that some of his team's non-performing stars could be dropped after three successive defeats at the start of the tri-nations one-day series. "There's a case for saying maybe some change in terms of the current squad we've got will occur, but that's in the selectors' hands," Buchanan said here as the selectors wrestled with the side's line-up for Sunday's crucial match here with South Africa. Australia, World Cup one-day champions, desperately need to win to get their tri-nations campaign on track. With five qualifying games remaining, Australia can still make next month's best-of-three finals, but will find the path tough if they crash again. "I'm sure all teams struggle with the mantle of being a successful team, and at this point I think we are," Buchanan said. "New Zealand are playing very well and South Africa have a very structured one-day game, which they're playing to the letter." Australia's selectors have yet to decide which 11 players will turn out against the Proteas before a sellout crowd of about 35,000. Chairman of selectors Trevor Hohns also Friday dismissed claims that the controversial rotation system among the 14-man squad was to blame for the side's woes. "I would not for one minute suggest the rotation system has caused the three losses," Hohns said. "We put on the field in Sydney (against New Zealand) what we thought were the best team in those conditions and against that opposition. "We have not discussed who will play Sunday, but we'll put on the field a team we think can win." Buchanan also backed the rotation system, leaving the door open for local Queensland trio, opening batsman Matthew Hayden, all-rounder Andrew Symonds and fast bowler Andrew Bichel to return. The trio were left out of Thursday's match after also missing the opening loss to New Zealand six days earlier. "From our point of view, we are still keen to continue the mix of players, moving players in and out of the side," Buchanan said. "The morale is very good within the side and it's now a matter of transforming that belief into action on the field." Australia need to win Sunday to re-charge their players with the positive approach that characterises the country's Test line-up, which has just completed a 3-0 whitewash of South Africa. Despite the recent hiccups, sports bookmakers still have Australia favourites to win the tri-series contest. If changes are made to the Australian squad, Australia A captain Darren Lehmann will be the most likely inclusion in the fragile middle-order. Lehmann led Australia 'A' with style during wins over South Africa and New Zealand last week, and he raced to a century for South Australia Friday in their Sheffield Shield match against New South Wales.. Australian fast bowler Glenn McGrath admitted Friday Australia could face a stern challenge in this series if they lost again before the finals. "There are five matches left and if we win them all we'll still get in the final," McGrath said. "Confidence is not at its highest at the moment, but I think the guys have a lot of faith in their own ability, as well as their teammates. "We'll go out in the middle and put that into practice and work towards a good 50 overs which we haven't done so far." |
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