Michael Slater Admits Australian Batting a Huge Concern for Ashes
Sep 17, 2017 at 1:41 PM
Former Australian opening batsman Michael Slater, who was known for his stroke-making, admitted that he is concerned about Kangaroos middle-order set-up while adding it would solely rely on the skipper Steven Smith and vice-captain David Warner at home.
“I’m worried about our side. It still relies on Warner, Smith,” Slater was quoted as saying by Cricket Australia after an interview with Channel Nine’s show ‘Sports Sunday’.
However, the senior campaigners in the form of Warner-Smith would not be worried to shoulder the responsibility against England in the Magellan Ashes Series which is scheduled to kick start in Brisbane from November 23.
The New South Wales-born-born Slater believes Australia could have a real advantage in the traditional home series while hoping the inconsistent batting unit would come right against the Three Lions’ bowlers.
The ex-right-handed batsman Slater reiterated the Cricket Australia (CA) Nation Panel Selectors must show the faith in all-rounder Glenn Maxwell adding you can’t expect the top-notch performances straight away.
“He [Maxwell] has played a handful (of Tests) now, (the selectors) have got to go with him and certainly for the first Test in the Ashes,” Slater added.
The 28-year-old Victoria-born Maxwell has featured in seven Tests, and averages 26.07 in 14 innings after massing 339 runs. He has a solitary century to his name.
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Slater suggested the output may take some time, but he believes the results are bound to come.
“They’ve got to stick with (Maxwell) because it takes some time,” he said. Not every player comes in and performs first Test,” Slater maintained.
As Slater backs Maxwell, Slater added the top-order batsman Peter Handscomb has to perform in the middle, as the numbers equally support the Melbourne-born wicket-keeper batsman.
“(Peter) Handscomb is at five, Maxwell’s got to shine. There’s a lot of interest there. “(Matthew) Wade as ‘keeper, he’s got to start scoring runs,” Slater said.
Interestingly, Slater who has himself featured in 20 Ashes matches has somehow felt the hosts would be hinging on their much-talked bowling quartet is by Mitchell Starc, who is nursing an injury.
The 26-year Handscomb has already notched two centuries and four fifties, as he averages 53.07 in just 10 Tests. Showing some promise early on, Handscomb scored 743 runs under his belt.
“The moment you start feeling comfortable and safe in your spot is when your performances start to decline,” Handscomb asserted.
Recently, following the remarkable return, Australia tied the two-match Test series in Bangladesh 1-1, after surrendering in the Dhaka Test.
Concurrently, Australian side is in India to feature in the ongoing bilateral series which kick-started in Chennai on September 17 (Sunday).
The tour comprises of five One-day internationals and three Twenty20 Internationals.