Australia were too negative against India, did not push hard enough for wins: Michael Clarke

Tags: India tour of Australia, 2020-21, India, Australia, Michael John Clarke

Published on: Jan 21, 2021

Former Australian captain Michael Clarke feels Australia displayed a negative approach during the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, which cost them. According to Clarke, the Aussies went down to an injury-ravaged India because they were scared to lose, and did not push hard enough for wins. Despite playing with a relatively inexperienced XI, India managed to defeat Australia by three wickets at the Gabba and clinch the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2-1.

"I thought we might have been a tad negative at certain stages throughout because we were scared to lose versus attack hard and look to win the game," Clarke said on Big Sports Breakfast, according to a PTI report.

"At the end of the day, whether we lost with 20 overs left in the game or on the last ball of the game, it didn't matter. We had to win that game to win that trophy.

"I sort of feel we should have approached the first ball of that game to the last ball of that game with a bit more of that attitude," Clarke further added.

The former Australian captain, however, refused to blame current leader Tim Paine for Australia’s struggles. According to Clarke, the buck cannot stop with the captain as there are many other professionals at play who call the shots. He further elaborated, "When I played cricket, when I grew up watching my father ... the captain was accountable in the teams I played in. Through that transition of me captaining Australia, that changed.

"There had become a chairman of selectors that had more pull, there had become a high performance manager that had more pull, there had become a head coach who had more pull. So now, who is driving the bus? This is my point," Clarke further said.

Former Aussie pacer Brett Lee also defended Paine, stating he has been doing a good job as captain. Lee felt the 36-year-old is being unfairly targeted. Lee told foxsports.com.au, "I think since he's taken over the captaincy he's shown real good leadership qualities.

"And look, there's been a lot written about Tim Paine behind the stumps. He's grassed a few chances, but who hasn't? You look at all the keepers in history and I'm sure there would be plenty who had leaner periods behind the stumps.

"With the bat, you can't fault him. He goes along with Marnus Labuschagne as having one of the best techniques in the team. He stood up and took on the Indian players," Lee further said in defence on Paine.

--By A Cricket Correspondent

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