Smith’s stat attack shames Aussie team

The skipper revealed the astonishing statistic himself in his post-match press conference, fed up that nearly every time Australia has walked out to the middle in the past 12 months has resulted in a batting capitulation of varying degrees of seriousness.

Even in an ultimately comprehensive seven-wicket triumph in the second Test, Australia failed to put Bangladesh to the sword when they had their chance in the first innings.

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Following on from David Warner’s hundred and solid 50s from Smith and Peter Handscomb, Australia should have been ruthless enough on a good wicket to drive Bangladesh out of the game, but instead they lost 5-66 and led by only 72 at the change of innings.

In the end Nathan Lyon’s 13-wicket performance made the collapse irrelevant, but Australia’s losing run since Sri Lanka last year confirms that more often than not, batting slides are costing his team dearly.

Smith said losing wickets in large and devastating clumps was largely a mental issue and a crisis Australia must stamp out before the Ashes.

“We’ve had 15 collapses in our last 14 games our analyst told me yesterday and that’s not good enough for an Australian cricket team,” declared Smith.

“That’s something we really need to work on and rectify that in the next series, the Ashes.

“Losing seven or eight for a 100 or a bit more, that’s a pretty reasonable collapse and if you do that on regular occurrences, you’re not going to win a lot of cricket games. It’s something we need to work on.

“I’d say 95 per cent of batting is mental and decision making and unfortunately we’ve been making the wrong decisions and getting ourselves in some trouble.

“I don’t think it’s technical. Guys just have to make better decisions consistently and hopefully be able to build some partnerships in the middle.”

Smith was particularly strong on wicketkeeper Matthew Wade’s desperate need to start making runs to justify his spot in the side.

Wade had a strong game with the gloves, almost faultless behind the stumps, however, he again failed in his one opportunity with the bat and averages just 20 in his 10 Tests since being recalled last summer.

The skipper said Australia wants Wade as its keeper — but that the Tasmanian will now have to duke it out in the first three rounds of Sheffield Shield cricket if he’s to save his place for the Ashes.

“I think Matty knows (this) himself … he came out to a few of the guys the other day and said he needed more runs,” said Smith.

“He’s open and honest about that. We’ve got the one-dayers (in India) and then he’ll go back and play Shield cricket and hopefully get a few big scores and ‘keep really well and keep putting his name up.

“We really love him around the Australian team, he provides a lot out on the field for us.

“Great energy and good chat which is something that we need. He provides a lot there but hopefully he can continue to improve and put some performances on the board back home and keep putting his name back there.”

Smith said the side also wants Usman Khawaja — dumped from the second Test — to make his spot back at No. 3 for the first Test against England at the Gabba a certainty.

“The way he plays in Australia is really suited for those conditions so hopefully he can make some big scores and spend some time in the middle and then hopefully have a big summer for us,” Smith said.