News Corp cricket writer Robert Craddock thinks making a semi-final at the T20 World Cup would be a pass mark for Australia to help coach Justin Langer keep the “wolves at bay”.
Australia open their campaign against South Africa at Zayed Cricket Stadium in Abu Dhabi on Saturday night (AEST) and are out to win their first T20 World Cup - the one piece of major silverware that’s eluded the Australian men’s team.
“Justin Langer can’t afford for Australia to just vanish without trace in this T20 World Cup,” Craddock told SEN’s Whateley.
“It won’t cost him his job, but it just shapes the narrative for the summer, ‘Langer under more pressure for the Ashes’.
“They need a dignified finish in this tournament.
“Semi-final finish I’d say would be a minor pass mark and probably keep the wolves at bay for Langer for a little while.
“But it’s also how they finish too, if it’s a two-run loss compared to a catastrophic batting collapse.
“It just comes down to that part of the world, Australia just doesn’t play spin well and that’s the big thing.”
According to Craddock, Australia has failed to grasp the “nuances” of T20 cricket with their selection process, while calling for Mitchell Swepson to partner fellow leggy Adam Zampa in spin friendly conditions in Oman and the UAE.
“I still like the idea of as well as playing Zampa, playing Mitchell Swepson as well,” he said.
“One performance I’ve never forgotten in white-ball World Cups was the way Brad Hogg breezed through two beautiful undefeated World Cups for Australia as a hit and run merchant, where because you only see him once, it’s hard to pick their varieties.
“I still believe they should consider that, I’m not sure they’d brave enough for it, but I hope they do.”
It shapes as a crucial period for Langer with the Ashes on the horizon and his contract due to expire next year.
Australia’s squad: Aaron Finch (c), Ashton Agar, Pat Cummins (vc), Josh Hazlewood, Josh Inglis, Mitchell Marsh, Glenn Maxwell, Kane Richardson, Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc, Marcus Stoinis, Mitchell Swepson, Matthew Wade, David Warner, Adam Zampa. Reserves: Dan Christian, Nathan Ellis, Daniel Sams.