Skip to Content. Skip to Navigation.
Cricket

News

Work to do for Australia

Work to do for Australia

02/11/2012 04:09:39 AM

Australia have identified several areas they must improve on despite their winning start to the Commonwealth Bank Series, according to spinner Xavier Doherty.

The hosts sit comfortably at the top of the one-day international tri-series table, with nine points from two games, after convincingly beating India in the first match of the series and sneaking past Sri Lanka by five runs at the WACA Ground on Friday.

Doherty said they were pleased with most aspects of their performances at the start of the series, but still wanted to get better.

He said their thrilling victory over Sri Lanka, which saw the visitors nearly come back to win despite needing 89 runs when they lost their seventh wicket and 52 when the final partnership began, had given Australia areas to work on.

"We picked out a few things that we really need to improve on but to get the result and to bowl the way we did we're pretty happy with," Doherty said.

"We really need one of our top order to go on and get a big score, that'll get us up to a really competitive total. You're not going to win every game with 230 so that was a key issue."

"And then to take our foot off the accelerator late in the game, like we probably have done before, was just another thing that we didn't quite nail."

"But, like I said, to get the result that we wanted was great and no damage done."

Michael Clarke's side will be trying to continue their winning ways, having triumphed in seven of their past eight matches across the three formats, when they take on India in Adelaide on Sunday.

But they'll be without veteran batsman Mike Hussey, who has been rested for the match, with all-rounder Mitch Marsh returning from domestic duties to join the squad.

Ben Hilfenhaus has also left the group, meaning Australia has just a 12-man squad for the match.

Hussey's departure will see either Peter Forrest come in for his international debut or Marsh called up for just his second ODI.

"It'll be a great opportunity for one of those two guys to come in and make an impact," Doherty said.

"India will be pretty keen to knock us off after we touched them up at the MCG."

 
Photograph Copyright : Getty Images

Latest Headlines

Pune players plead innocence
Pune players plead innocence
05/21/2012 06:43:06 PM
IPL finds itself embroiled in yet another controversy after reports suggest Pune Warriors Rahul Sharma and Wayne Parnell were detained after the ...
 
 
Dravid undecided on IPL future
Dravid undecided on IPL future
05/21/2012 06:34:48 PM
Rahul Dravid on Sunday said he remains undecided on his future with the Rajasthan Royals and would look to make a decision after a break.
 
 
Pattinson nears full fitness
Pattinson nears full fitness
05/21/2012 07:40:31 AM
James Pattinson has overcome a back injury and is looking forward to Australia's tour of England next month.
 
 
Lord's Test on a knife-edge
05/20/2012 07:50:14 PM
 
Deccan deny RCB, Chennai qualify
05/20/2012 06:39:42 PM
 
Gilly: I have played my last IPL game
05/20/2012 06:38:45 PM
 
Sachin, Smith slam Rajasthan
05/20/2012 06:34:33 PM
 
Kolkata claim second place
05/19/2012 08:19:29 PM
 
Warner ends Punjab hopes
05/19/2012 08:17:36 PM
 
Chanderpaul holds England up
05/19/2012 08:04:32 PM
 
 
 

Your Say

Galleries

Photos of the Week
28/11/2011 3:33:38 PM
The golf season is getting into full swing; A League is continuing plus heaps more. So take a break from work and look thought the photo gallery of the week’s best sporting action.