Former Australia batsman Mark Waugh has strongly criticized the national selectors for leaving out Steve Smith from the original T20 World Cup squad. Waugh described the decision as confusing and insulting and said that Smith’s strong BBL form, excellent fielding and proven ability against spin made him an automatic selection.
Australia lost to co-hosts Sri Lanka in a Group B match in Pallekele on Monday, 16 February. Sri Lanka produced a calm, controlled performance to secure their place in the Super 8s, while Australia’s chances now depend on other results. The 2021 champions had suffered a crushing defeat against Zimbabwe a few days ago.
Australia’s campaign ruined by selection and injuries – Mark Waugh
Mark Waugh says Australia’s T20 World Cup campaign went wrong from the start due to poor selection calls and injuries. He believed that the team had not prepared well and believed that the clash was predictable, even though Australia were drawn in a relatively weak group.
“I think the whole campaign was doomed from the start because of selection issues and injuries. I think the preparation wasn’t good. It probably all worked out the way I thought it would, even though we’re in a very weak group,” Waugh told SENQ Breakfast.
Australia had initially kept Steve Smith out of the T20 World Cup squad. The selectors included him in the team just hours before the important match against Sri Lanka. However, Smith was still not included in the playing eleven.
He should have been selected first – Mark Waugh
Mark Waugh said Steve Smith’s omission from the original T20 World Cup squad was “the most shocking non-selection”. He said that given Smith’s skills, he should have been automatically selected.
“I know you can’t please everyone, and sometimes there are tough decisions that can go either way, but for me, basically Steve Smith not being selected in the team is the most shocking non-selection I can remember for ages. I mean, here you’ve got a guy who looks like a cut above everyone else in the BBL.
He said, “He is an excellent fieldsman. He is a great player of spin. He should have been selected earlier, and he was not selected in the team… then he was not even selected as a replacement, and then they took him there, and they still haven’t played him.”
Honestly, it’s an insult to Steve Smith – Mark Waugh
The former Australia batsman questioned several selection calls during the tournament. Waugh said that in-form players are important in T20 cricket because they do not have time to settle down. He also said that keeping Steve Smith aside is an insult to one of the great players of the game.
He said, “Then you have Matt Renshaw, who looks like he is one of the few players in form, and he was out of the big game last night. T20 cricket is the hardest format to get into form. You have to pick players who are in form, because the batsman doesn’t get time to build his confidence.”
Waugh said, “It’s troubling some of the selections, and injuries obviously haven’t helped. I think they’ve got the selection completely wrong and have sidelined their best player by 100 yards in Steve Smith…I think it’s an insult to Steve Smith, to be honest.”
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