Australia’s head coach Andrew McDonald revealed how they turned the tables after losing the first two matches of the recently concluded World Cup. Australia lost the opening two matches against India and South Africa and many cricket boffins were writing them off.
However, the Aussies showed why they are a champion team and won seven matches on the trot to qualify for the semifinals. Australia then defeated South Africa in the semifinal and got the better of dominant India in the all-important final by six wickets.
Australia was able to come up with a collective effort and got the job done to claim their sixth World Cup title.
Speaking to SEN Whately (h/t Foxsports.com.au), McDonald said, “There was a get-together post-game. But once again, that was really just to reinforce that we were on the right path. It was about, ‘Let’s stick to it and believe in what we’ve set out to achieve’, and that it will come to fruition eventually, albeit it didn’t in the first couple of games.
“It was really doubling down. I think we’ve had moments like that when we were 0-2 in India in the Test series as well and you bring the group together and it’s really just reiterating what you set out in the first place.”
In their third match of the World Cup against Sri Lanka, Australia found themselves in a spot of bother as the Islanders got off to a promising start. However, Pat Cummins was able to get his team back into the contest as he dismissed Kusal Mendis with a short-pitched delivery.
“We came up against Sri Lanka and I thought the bravery was in the moment where Pat Cummins bowed back-to-back bouncers. The second bouncer saw the downfall of Nissanka with a great running catch from Davey Warner. I think they were 0/125 at that point in time. No doubt people sitting back here probably thought that was the end of our World Cup.”
McDonald added: “We were able to turn it. Patty’s bravery, some fielding execution, an easy run chase and away we went from there. We didn’t really look back. There were times when we got stressed as well after that. But it was an incredible run, an incredible streak. We got going at the right time.”
Australia is currently taking on India in the five-match T20I series.
