ICC World T20 2014: Darren Lehmann says Australia’s fielding holds the key to their performance

Mar 16, 2014

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Australia are known for their dynamism in the field which has led them to win many matches and tournaments in their illustrious history. Australian fielding has had great connoisseurs like Ricky Ponting who could stop the best of chances offered to him and prevent the opposition form getting that crucial single or boundary.

And current Australian coach Darren Lehmann feels that it would be the fielding of his wards which would decide their performance in the upcoming ICC World T20 in Bangladesh, reports the Sydney Morning Herald.

“Fielding will win you a World Cup. I think it happens in all formats, a run-out or a spectacular catch. Or just stopping those balls that [are going] for four. From our point of view, we keep working hard on that and striving to be the best fielding team in the world,” said Lehmann.

Lehmann also said that he was pleased at the way his side fielded during their 2-0 win over South Africa in the recent T20 series and added that he wanted his side to be the best in the world in that department.

“We were really sharp, and that’s something we’ve probably done better than South Africa over the whole tour – Tests and T20s,” said Lehmann about Australia’s fielding against South Africa.

Even Australian skipper George Bailey echoed Lehmann’s views by saying that this was one of the best fielding outfits Australia had, and said that it will only improve their performance as a whole.

When queried about Australia failing to land the elusive World T20 title, Lehmann replied:” It’s a pretty cut-throat tournament. You’ve got to win three of your four [pool games] to get through to the semi-finals. That’s probably a good thing for us, because of the way we play.”

Lehmann has turned into a miracle man for Australia recently as he turned around the team’s poor run of form in the previous year and masterminded them to wins over England and South Africa.

When asked about what were the necessary requirements to succeed in T20 cricket, Lehmann concluded by saying:” X-factors. Players that are prepared to do anything for the team, at any given time. We have some pretty good team rules and the boys follow them brilliantly, so I’m really proud of that all the time.”

ICC World T20 2014 schedule: Match time table with venue details