Sharjah: Coach Steve Rixon doesn’t think Australia will be resting players during the series against Pakistan as they want to win as many games as they can.
Sport | Cricket
Management, not rotation for Australia
Coach Rixon aware of effect UAE conditions could have on players
- By K.R, Nayar, Chief Cricket Writer
- Published: 19:33 August 27, 2012
“We will be putting our best side out as much as possible,” he said, while admitting they will have to handle the UAE’s summer heat carefully during the series against Pakistan. “It’s probably management of the players than rotation.”
Rixon says Australia’s main worry will be over Matthew Wade, who has a dual role as opening batsman and wicketkeeper,
“Wade is our biggest concern having to play a dual role. If he has to field first and then go out and do the batting, he is going to look a lot more tired doing that way than the other way,” Rixon said.
“He is a guy that we will have to manage well and his position in the batting may have a bearing on that,” he added before going on to hint that Mike Hussey and George Bailey may open for Australia.
Rixon, who is standing in for Mickey Arthur on this tour, went on to acknowledge the benefit of some of the players participating in the Indian Premier League (IPL). “Mike Hussey has played in Chennai. He has played on these kinds of wickets, he is acclimatised to the humidity and the hot conditions. So he is aware of what we are going to get here and that is why he looked so fresh against Afghanistan,” he said.
“I am enjoying the role of being in the hotseat. I love it because this is my passion. I love to work with [captain] Michael Clarke. I have been around this side for the last six to eight months and am feeling comfortable with the sort of players we have in the side. I know about the challenges that are before us and what are coming up. We have to play very well to be at our best.”
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