Australia’s head coach Andrew McDonald reckons that the Pat Cummins-led side will remain committed to its ultra-aggressive brand of batting despite the heavy nine-wicket loss to Pakistan in the 2nd ODI. With the series now set for a decider in Perth, McDonald emphasized that Australia’s strategy will remain focused on high-intensity play, despite recent struggles and a depleted lineup.
Australia will enter the final match missing key players, including Pat Cummins, Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood, and Marnus Labuschagne, who are preparing for the upcoming Border-Gavaskar Trophy series starting on November 22. Nevertheless, McDonald expressed confidence in the current squad and stressed the importance of consistency in their game plan.
“We go to Perth with a clear plan, a clear method,” McDonald said, speaking to cricket.com.au. “We’re committed to the style we want to play. The big thing about that is we’ve won 16 out of the last 19 games, even with changing personnel. We believe in the aggressive approach, and while we didn’t execute well in Adelaide, we aim to bounce back.”
Australia’s new ODI opening pair of Matt Short and Jake Fraser-McGurk has struggled to make an impact at the top, but McDonald remains optimistic about their potential. Short’s form in England earlier this year showed promise, and McDonald views Fraser-McGurk’s development as an ongoing process.
“It’s about finding that balance,” he added. “Matt showed he’s up to the task earlier, even if the results haven’t come this series. And Jake is on his journey; he’s good enough to play at this level, but setbacks are part of his growth.”
McDonald also pointed to Australia’s recent ODI World Cup success in India, noting that tournament preparation often brings challenges that help refine the team’s form. He sees parallels between that period and their current build-up to the Champions Trophy next year.
“We didn’t have the smoothest prep before the World Cup but pulled it together in the end. This phase is about tuning things up, and Perth will be another chance to respond and sharpen our game,” McDonald concluded.
With a challenging schedule ahead, including a home Test series against India and an overseas tour to Sri Lanka, Australia is eager to find their stride while continuing to embrace their aggressive.
