Simmons blames batters for series defeat

Bangladesh head coach Phil Simmons has blamed the team’s batting failure for the T20 series loss against Australia, saying the batters failed to provide the bowlers with enough support.

Bangladesh suffered a 3-0 series defeat after losing the third and final match by seven wickets on Sunday. Speaking at the post-match press conference, Simmons described the performance as disappointing, particularly from the batting unit.

“Considering how we have played in our recent T20 series, this is extremely disappointing. I was happy with the team’s attitude after the last match. Scoring 190 while chasing against a team like Australia shows a good fight, but the first match and today’s game, especially the batting unit, were very disappointing. We gave nothing for the bowlers to defend,” Simmons said.

The coach said the issue was not only about the series result but also about the team’s approach in T20 cricket.

“We want to score quickly, but we also have to understand the situation. After Tamim’s wicket, everyone gave away their wickets. Someone in the middle has to take responsibility. Today, only Hridoy did that,” he added.

Simmons also spoke about the absence of experienced batter Litton Das, saying the team naturally missed his quality but must learn to perform without him.

“You will miss Litton’s batting and class, but when he is injured we have to continue and play well. Others also need to step up because even Litton can get out on any day with just one ball. The pressure has to be handled by the team,” he said.

The Bangladesh coach, however, acknowledged that the team showed improvement after the opening match and praised the players’ efforts.

TZ