Australia head coach Andrew McDonald has defended the team’s preparation for the T20 World Cup, placing responsibility for their early exit on the players and rejecting claims that the format was not treated as a priority.
Australia were eliminated in the group stage after defeats to Zimbabwe and Sri Lanka, sparking criticism back home. Former cricketers and analysts questioned the team’s build-up, noting that several squad members joined a warm-up series in Pakistan late after prioritising commitments in the Big Bash League.
The side suffered a 3-0 series defeat to Pakistan before failing to progress to the Super Eight stage of the World Cup.
McDonald dismissed suggestions that Australia had not been fully focused on the tournament, calling such claims a “false narrative”.
“I have heard that sort of narrative that T20 World Cups don’t matter to us,” he told reporters. “I think all that is a response to the performances of Australian cricket teams in these competitions.
“We won in 2021 and we haven’t been as successful since then. The expectations on the Australian cricket team are high — and rightfully so.
“But to sit back and say that we’re prioritising other formats or other versions of the game and not the T20 World Cup is entirely false.”
Australia were without frontline fast bowlers Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood due to injury, but McDonald insisted the available squad was strong enough to compete.
“It shouldn’t be about the players that we’re missing,” said McDonald, who also serves as a selector. “It should be looking at the performances and we’re disappointed in those. We need to own those and the critique is fair and reasonable.”
Australia conclude their campaign with a final group match against Oman in Pallekele on Friday.