'They will be disappointed by the intent they showed and..' - Former Australian captain criticizes his team after they lost to India in ODI World Cup 2023

Australia's former captain Aaron Finch is advocating for a more assertive batting strategy after their six-wicket loss to India in the ODI World Cup 2023 opener. Finch expressed worry about Australia's passive batting performance against India's formidable spin attack and emphasized the need for a mindset shift for improved results in upcoming matches.

In the India clash, spinners Ravindra Jadeja, Kuldeep Yadav, and Ravichandran Ashwin collectively took six crucial wickets, conceding 104 runs in 30 overs, leading to Australia's dismissal for a modest 199 runs. Despite a tense start, India successfully chased the target. Finch, a key figure in Australia's 2015 ODI World Cup and 2021 T20 World Cup victories, shared his insights in a column for the Apex Cricket Website.

The former Australia skipper also went on to express concern, stating, "There was a bit of a lack of aggression from the Australian batters. They will be disappointed by the intent they showed and the fact that they weren't able to put any pressure back on India."

Australia need to assess their batting strategy

Acknowledging India's spin bowlers' effectiveness, Finch stressed the need for Australia to reassess their batting strategy. While initially focusing on proactive play and rotating the strike, Finch emphasized adopting a more assertive, front-footed approach and taking calculated risks, especially against top-class spinners. Finch also believes that this was a one-off performance from the Australian team and he also stressed the fact that they will fight back.

Despite the setback in the tournament's opening, Finch maintained optimism, noting the extended group stage with nine games, stating, "The mood around Australia is still optimistic." Drawing parallels with the T20 World Cup, he highlighted the resilience afforded by the 50-over format, where a couple of losses can be managed if they don't severely impact the net run rate. As Australia prepares for their next match against South Africa, they aim to regroup with a more aggressive batting approach to regain momentum in the ODI World Cup 2023.