'Really slack': Justin Langer laments missed championship chance
It seemed like such a simple error at the time, the Australian Test squad barely paid it any mind.
But their slow over rate in the Boxing Day Test against India last year cost them four points in the World Test Championship.
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At the time, head coach Justin Langer thought little of it, but the error allowed New Zealand to slip ahead of Australia in the Test rankings they'd dominated for months.
While far from the only reason why the lost series against India cost Australia a coveted spot in the Test Championship final at Lords, Langer said that the team had let something entirely within their control be their undoing stung.
“It wasn’t until after the game that we realised our over rate was down. Now, that’s really slack on our behalf,” Langer said.
“And we had that in our control, that’s an attitudinal thing.
“At the time, we probably thought it’s not that big a deal – the players get fined – but that cost us the World Test Championship after what had been two really good years for Australian cricket where we were ranked No. 1 again.”
After Australia won the first Test in the series against India in dominant fashion, the injury ravaged, shorthanded visitors rallied to ultimately claim a thrilling series victory.
India were without captain Virat Kohli for the final three Tests, and were also forced to lean heavily on a relatively inexperienced bowling lineup due to injuries to the likes of Jasprit Bumrah and Umesh Yadav.
Justin Langer rues lost Test championship points
Australia had dominated the world rankings for two and a half years before the 2-1 series loss to India on home soil last summer.
According to ICC rules, teams must bowl a minimum of 15 overs each hour, with Australia's rate of 13 costing them four Test championship points and 20% of the players' match fee.
Speaking to SEN, Langer admitted the slow over rate caught coaching staff by surprise during the Boxing Day Test.
“I remember we were in the team room afterwards and I spoke to Painey (skipper Tim Paine) and Dene Hills, our analyst, about it. I was a bit grumpy about it and I thought, ‘Imagine if this cost us the World Test Championship’,” Langer said.
“And I mentioned it to the players afterwards that two overs down could cost us the World Test Championship. And so, we have to get better at that and make sure it doesn’t happen in Sydney and Brisbane.
“It was relevant at the time, and it certainly became incredibly significant over the weekend.”
India's recent victory over England in their Test series has officially ruled Australia out of the Test Championship final, with India winning through to face New Zealand for the title.
India thumped England by an innings and 25 runs inside three days in the fourth and final Test to complete a 3-1 series victory that also dashed Australia's hopes of making the World Test Championship.
India's 13th consecutive Test series victory at home secures their place in the June final against New Zealand at Lord's.
Australia had required England to win the Test and draw the series to make the decider.
With AAP
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