Jason Gillespie believes the hot pace of Haris Rauf “exposed some flaws” in Australia’s batting ahead of an India series he says was prioritised well above the ODI matches that provided Pakistan’s first win over the hosts in two decades.
While Glenn Maxwell was the most obvious victim of Rauf over three games in Melbourne, Adelaide and Perth, the likes of Marnus Labuschagne and Test team recruit Josh Inglis were also beaten by his pace at various points.
Marnus Labuschagne walks off the Adelaide Oval after being dismissed on Friday.Credit: Getty Images
Gillespie, who stood in as Pakistan’s interim white-ball coach after Gary Kirsten’s sudden resignation before the tour, also said the tourists had known before the series they were a strong chance of winning the final game because Australia were always likely to rest a bunch of Test players from the long haul trip to Perth.
Captain Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood, Mitchell Starc, Steve Smith and Marnus Labuschagne all stayed on the east coast.
“We knew that there was probably going to be some change, knowing what Australia have coming up,” Gillespie told this masthead. “You always thought at the back of your mind were they going to send the big quicks over to Perth to play one 50-over game.
“We anticipated that, and that’s the nature of modern cricket and it’s up to selectors, coaches to manage their players as best they can. Australia chose to do that. It was pretty obvious that this three-match one-day series wasn’t the highest of priorities for Australia.
“All we can do as Pakistan is play against the opposition that’s presented and we did that really well. It was pleasing not just to beat Australia but beat them pretty convincingly. The reality is we should have won the first game as well.”
Gillespie does not blame the Australian hierarchy, led by head coach Andrew McDonald, for managing their playing resources carefully with a Test series around the corner. Pakistan’s next Test series isn’t until late December in South Africa.
“It’s critical to look after and manage your players as effectively as you possibly can, because you want them fit and firing for as much international cricket as possible, and sometimes you have to manage some players,” he said.
“It’s unrealistic to have players playing every single international that’s scheduled, I just don’t think that’s sustainable, and you burn players out very quickly.”
Rauf’s speed and hostility netted him 10 wickets in three games at 12 runs apiece, while Shaheen Afridi and Naseem Shah also made the most of some indiscreet Australian shot-making and lively pitches.
Coach Jason Gillespie (back row, fourth from left) with Pakistan’s squad after their series win.Credit: AP
“What we saw in this series is our bowling exposed some flaws in the Australian batting,” Gillespie said. “I’m sure the Australians will look to right some wrongs and improve some things. That’s what good players and good teams do, you learn and adjust and adapt and be ready for the next challenge.”
For Gillespie, who played white-ball cricket for Australia in the days before Twenty20 and the Big Bash League, when 50-over games were more prominent, felt a distinct lack of promotion for Pakistan’s visit.
“To be honest, I pretty much saw no promotion of our one-day series by Cricket Australia, which was a bit of a surprise,” he said. “It’s pretty obvious that they’re prioritising the Border-Gavaskar Trophy Test series against India, because I saw no promotion of this series.
“Fox do a great job promoting, but it was pretty clear to us where CA’s priorities lie. That’s their prerogative and their decision, but I just didn’t see any advertising, and promotion of this one-day series at all.
“The fact it was behind the paywall as well probably limited the amount of advertising and interest in the series. The timing of it ... it’s really difficult for administrators to schedule all the cricket in. But it has felt from Pakistan’s perspective that based on selections and promotion of the series that their priorities have been India. Everyone can see that, it’s pretty obvious.”
News, results and expert analysis from the weekend of sport are sent every Monday. Sign up for our Sport newsletter.