David Lloyd and Nasser Hussain were unimpressed by the lack of intent shown by Australia wicketkeeper Alex Carey during Australia’s dramatic loss to England in the second ODI in Manchester on Sunday.
Chasing 232 to go 2-0 up in the series, and on course for an easy win at 144-2, Australia lost four wickets for three runs, collapsing extraordinarily against the English seamers.
Lloyd, on-air during Australia’s batting struggle, was unimpressed by the laid-back approach of wicketkeeper Carey, who failed to muster quick runs as the side slipped further and further.
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“He’s been passive, seven runs from 16, just watching wickets fall,” Lloyd said on commentary. “He’s in there as a big-hitting wicketkeeper. He’s got to do it.”
Having walked in at 145-4 in the 32nd over, Carey spent the next ten overs nurdling the ball around, scoring just 11 runs off 18 balls.
“Alex Carey has been in for 10 overs, he’s only faced 19 deliveries,” Lloyd continued on-air. “He’s finding it desperately difficult to find the middle of the bat. I understand he’s got to stay there, but he’s doing nothing.”
Chris Woakes: 26 (39) & 3-32
Sam Curran: 1 (5) & 3-35
Tom Curran: 37 (39) & 0-28
Adil Rashid: 35* (26) & 1-67
Jofra Archer: 6* (2) & 3-34Fantastic contributions from all five of England's bowlers.#ENGvAUS pic.twitter.com/Mp2Y32NmsP
— Wisden (@WisdenCricket) September 13, 2020
Nasser Hussain added to the chorus as Carey’s bat continued to stay quiet even in the face of a mounting run-rate. “[He’s] quite happy to give the bowlers the strike,” Hussain noted. “It’s been excellent from England, a little bit odd from Australia to say the least.”
Carey was the last wicket to fall for Australia, trudging to 36 off 41 by the 49th over. Lloyd tore into Australia’s middle-order, that lost eight wickets for 63 runs in all.
“Finch, Labuschagne, and then nothing … Australia get to eight (on the order) and they’ve got no idea.”
Hussain was particularly unimpressed by Australia’s inability to score boundaries when the run-rate piled on. Finch, Australia’s top scorer, hit eight fours in his 73, but the rest of the batsmen could manage just five between them. “They look shell-shocked,” said Hussain. “As good as England have been, Australia just haven’t coped with the pressure – frenetic. They’re looking like they don’t have a plan.
“One boundary in 17 overs from Australia! It’s quite remarkable. You don’t mind losing but go down with a fight. At the moment, they’re going down with a whimper. I can’t remember the last shot in anger from an Australian batsman.”
