The Australian team failed to reach the semifinals of the T20 World Cup 2022 (Australia). On defending champion Australia’s poor performance, former Australian captain Mike Clarke criticized the team saying it’s not Australian cricket. Australia had to withdraw from the tournament at home. The team started with a crushing loss against New Zealand. In the first match, New Zealand defeated the team by 89 runs.
Speaking on the Big Sport Breakfast radio show, Michael Clarke said: “I think Australians in general are always in line under the biggest pressure on the biggest stage and trying to do something that’s tough. We weren’t afraid of losing. We chose 11 aggressive players in this World Cup squad but we play a defensive game. This is not Australian cricket.”
Clarke continued: “It’s the most disappointing thing for me that I missed a move against Ireland and Afghanistan. I don’t know what I was looking for. I felt like they were doing everything they could to beat Afghanistan. I know you can’t always beat every team easily. and have that attitude. But they should have.”
Clarke further said: “He should have gone out on the field against Afghanistan and said ‘we’re going to score 200 and get you out for 100,’ but he didn’t have that aggression. He didn’t have that fire. He also looked lazy on the field.
In the match against Afghanistan, Australia dropped Mitchell Starc. Speaking of this, Clarke said: “I think he’s done a lot of things wrong and I’ve made it very clear in the commentary that I think taking Mitchell Starc off the team against Afghanistan was one of those things.”