With Cameron Green:<\/b> Australia head coach Andrew McDonald has backed his team\u2019s batting unit despite consecutive collapses against South Africa, insisting the visitors have reasons to remain optimistic following their series defeat in Cape Town.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
McDonald also expressed confidence that Steve Smith would return for the upcoming home Test series against New Zealand, with Australia keen to resolve the batter\u2019s neck problem ahead of a demanding international schedule.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<\/p>\r\n\r\n
With Cameron Green returning from injury and Josh Inglis strengthening his case with another away Test, Australia could explore different batting combinations before the New Zealand series. McDonald believes the experience gained in difficult overseas conditions could ultimately benefit his side.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cIt\u2019s still a very good cricket team with a lot of very good players in there, and some \u2026 (who) will be acknowledged as legends of the game. We\u2019ve got to balance that out with who comes in, what the next decisions are. If you looked at the batting unit, I think we walk away in a stronger position (than at the start of the South Africa tour).<\/p>\r\n\r\n<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cWith Green, it was an injury that curtailed him early in the series. Inglis \u2026 he\u2019s (now) got two away Test hundreds. We know how difficult it is to play away. The challenge is always greater when you play away in foreign conditions and you get challenged in different ways. There\u2019s a reason why a lot of teams don\u2019t win on the road \u2013 it is difficult. It\u2019s not an excuse \u2013 we felt as though we\u2019re good enough to come here and win this series,\u201d he said.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Smith missed the series-deciding Test at Newlands after failing a final fitness assessment, despite attempting to overcome the issue with a pain-killing injection. McDonald said the decision rested with the senior batter and stressed that his recovery would take priority.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cYou would have seen what we saw early in that net session the day before. It looked really positive \u2013 but you never know how you\u2019re going to pull up from that.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cAll I\u2019ll say is the medical team and Steve gave it every chance, and that\u2019s all you can do. The next morning \u2026 he wasn\u2019t ready to play. He acknowledged that \u2013 and we do put a lot of trust into our players, in particular our senior players who know their bodies quite well.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cSo that decision of Steve's, I think, was the right decision. He wasn\u2019t ready to go in that scenario,\u201d McDonald was quoted as saying by cricket.com.au.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Despite uncertainty surrounding Smith\u2019s long-term plans, McDonald expects him to feature in the first Test against New Zealand in Perth next month.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cI\u2019ve got no knowledge to the counter of that,\u201d McDonald said. \u201cSo yes, we are planning for him to play against New Zealand, Test in Perth.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\"I think first and foremost, it\u2019s understanding what\u2019s going on with the neck issue \u2026 What do we need to do to make sure it doesn\u2019t happen again and give him the best preparation that we possibly can?<\/p>\r\n\r\n<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cThere will be Shield cricket, there\u2019s opportunities for him. He\u2019ll be well prepared for the Test match.\u201d<\/p>\r\n\r\n<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Australia captain Pat Cummins also backed Smith\u2019s efforts to prove his fitness before withdrawing.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cSteve himself was quite confident that he was going to get up \u2026 and he wanted to give it right to the last minute.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cUnfortunately, he just didn\u2019t feel quite right. He knows his body better than anyone else. I was definitely disappointed \u2013 he\u2019s the best player in the world, vice-captain, and all those things.\u201d<\/p>\r\n\r\n<\/p>\r\n\r\n
McDonald acknowledged that Marnus Labuschagne had failed to capitalise on his opportunity in South Africa, although he remains convinced the batter has the ability to recover his form.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cWe believed in \u2018Marn\u2019 for this tour,\u201d McDonald said. \u201cWe\u2019ll have to reassess that as we move forward.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cThere\u2019ll be a lot of speculation. There\u2019s still a very good cricketer there. Every time he drops back to state level, he outperforms the others \u2026 But he hasn\u2019t taken his opportunity on this tour.\u201d<\/p>\r\n\r\n<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cWe believed in \u2018Marn\u2019 for this tour,\u201d McDonald said. \u201cWe\u2019ll have to reassess that as we move forward.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Also Read: <\/b> Special Cricket Stories<\/a><\/p>\r\n\r\n