Lehmann wants better T20 schedule for Australia

SYDNEY: Australia coach Darren Lehmann has called for a more extensive programme of T20 matches ahead of the next World T20 to be hosted down under in 2020, highlighting a lack of matches in the format as a key reason for his side’s failure to progress to the semi-finals.

While being generous in his praise for the wondrous innings played by Virat Kohli, Lehmann said Australia can perform better next time around through a more carefully planned T20 schedule.

Australia played a solitary T20I in 2015, before a quick run of six games immediately before this event. He also pointed to the team’s opening loss against New Zealand, when they faded badly chasing a middling total, as pivotal to their fortunes.

“If anything it was the eight runs against New Zealand that cost us. When we were 1 for 60 off about seven [2 for 51 off 6.4], we should have got those runs,” Lehmann said.

“You can have all the excuses under the sun. No Mitchell Starc, no Patrick Cummins, all that. But at the end of the day we weren’t good enough and we’ve got to get better playing as a group. Scheduling is always the toughest thing for us, we know that.”