Michael Bevan seeks Australia batting coach role after string of collapses
Australia’s frequent batting collapses have prompted Bevan to approach Cricket Australia for the role.
Former batsman Michael Bevan has expressed his wish to become Australian cricket team’s batting coach, in the wake of Steven Smith’s team going through embarrassing batting collapses leading to a string of defeats.
Bevan’s wish has received the backing of former Australia captain Michael Clarke, as the ex-players continue to remain worried about the team’s performances in the lead-up to the Ashes 2017-18, starting November 23 at The Gabba in Brisbane.
The defeat by 50 runs in the second ODI to India was Australia’s 10th loss in last 12 matches overseas. They were blanked 0-5 by South Africa last year in an away series and have been on the losing end for a while. Australia’s last away ODI win, in fact, came against a lowly Ireland team in Benoni in 2016.
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On Saturday, Bevan took to Twitter to express his wish to Cricket Australia (CA) to become the national team’s batting coach.
Australia’s batting collapses have evidently left Smith frustrated, who did not mince his words after his team hobbled to yet another embarrassing defeat in Kolkata.
“It’s happening a bit too often for my liking, to be honest with you, in all forms of cricket,” Smith said. “We’ve had a lot of collapses and we need to stop. “It’s easy to just sit here and say ‘it needs to stop’, but when you get out in the middle you have to change what you’re doing because it’s not working,” he said.
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It must be remembered that the Australians touring India are without their ace bowlers Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood, as well as James Pattinson. But it is their batsmen who have let down the team with two meek performances.
Even the head coach Darren Lehmann is not a part of the touring party in India, as he is busy preparing for the Ashes.
The third ODI of the series will be played at the Holkar Stadium in Indore, on Sunday, September 24.