Ian Healy fears for Australia after the team’s disastrous T20 World Cup opener.
The Aussies were “flogged” by New Zealand at the SCG on Saturday night, dismissed for just 111 when chasing down 200 on their way to an 89-run loss.
With only two teams from Group 1 set to advance to the knockout phase, it leaves Australia in a vulnerable position given they still have to play England - one of the tournament favourites.
Former wicketkeeper Healy says the result against the Blackcaps has Andrew McDonald’s side precariously placed.
“What you can’t do in this format is lose a game you’re expected to win,” Healy said on SENQ Breakfast.
“They’ve not only done that but they’ve been flogged in a game they were expected to win.
“That means they’ve got pressure on every game from here on in now and there was always going to be pressure on (the) England (game). That is the one they might have lost, now they’ve got to win it.
“We didn’t play very well. New Zealand were 0/29 after two (overs).”
Healy believes Australia’s bowlers have been able to avoid the brunt of the blame for the loss.
He is also worried about the form of captain Aaron Finch who was dismissed for just 13 in the tournament opener.
“Our batsmen are copping it for getting out for 111, but our bowlers were just as bad,” he added.
“Our full balls and our short balls weren’t right.
“This team is good enough to play better than that. Let’s get them playing better, they’ll win.
“I always said I’m giving ‘Finchy’ two games, but that’s the next one. If we win against Sri Lanka like we should, and he doesn’t come good, Steve Smith could find himself captain.”
After the defeat, all-rounder Marcus Stoinis suggested everything “should be fine” with the Aussies if they can take care of Sri Lanka in Perth on Tuesday night and then defeat England at the MCG on Friday night.
“It’s the first game of the World Cup and if we look after the rest then everything should be fine,” he told reporters.
“It does leave us in a position where other people might be in control. But if we go through and we’ve only lost one game and we don’t make it, I think we can probably, to a certain extent, be OK with that. But for now, the next focus is Sri Lanka.”
Stoinis added: “But not if we rock up in Perth and do what we need to do, and then we rock up to the MCG in front of a big crowd and do what we need to do, then all of a sudden the narrative is turning and we’re flying.
“As much as we don’t want to get ahead of ourselves, we know that if we put some good performances on the board and we play like we can, that we will look after it.”
Healy feels the words from Stoinis are perhaps a little bit naive given the circumstances, suggesting that flicking the switch is easier said than done.
“Marcus Stoinis’ comments that the narrative will be right,” Healy added.
“That narrative is harder than he’s explaining. ‘If we rock up to Perth on Tuesday night and get that done, then we rock up and beat England, we’ll be right’.
“They’re not easy, mate. He’s made that sound a lot easier than it’s going to be. England are going to love that contest.”
Australia simply must beat Sri Lanka on Tuesday night to keep hopes of their T20 World Cup title defence alive.
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