10 November - Pune - Australia Bowling Coach Daniel Vettori pre-match press conference
[Reporter:]
How is Glenn Maxwell? He's obviously, was feeling it from what I understand. Do you expect him to play? Where is he at?
[Daniel Vettori:]
He's definitely been in full recovery mode the last few days. I think we all saw the effects of the innings and in particular the heat. So, I think today's a big day, see how he pulls up. But obviously we've had a couple of days off so there's been no training. He's not here today but we'll just see how he sort of feels as the day continues on but it's obviously been pretty hectic for him the last few days.
[Reporter:]
Will he have to do any sort of fitness test or anything or is it just a matter of how he feels on Saturday tomorrow?
[Daniel Vettori:]
I think it'll be how he feels - I don't think it'll be a fitness test scenario. We understand that obviously now that the semi-final is pretty definitive in Kolkata on the 16th, that it will be a build towards that. I think he does have a track record of being able to bounce back pretty quickly, even with some time away from the game. So, I think, like I said, it will depend on how the day goes and then make a decision. Being a day game as well, probably means tonight they'll make the call.
[Reporter:]
Everyone's rightfully raving about Maxwell the batter, but can you just give an insight about Maxwell the spinner? How has the work that has been put in by all of you to ensure that he has emerged as one of the most effective spinners in the tournament?
[Daniel Vettori:]
I think you have to give Glenn [Maxwell] most of that credit. I think he's a very willing bowler and I think sometimes that can be the hardest part of being an all-rounder, that even though you do have the skills, the desires, not always there. And Max, he loves bowling. And he loves the strategy that goes into it, probably like with his batting.
So, I think you see a bowler that's evolved over the last few years. And I think he's been able to, in particular, start to bowl over the wicket to right-handers, which sort of went out of fashion for a period of time, and I think it's his ability to almost get near topspin, challenge the stumps the whole time from round and over the wicket.
I think particularly in the power play, going over the wicket and being able to either skid it on or spin it back into the right-handed batsman has been his biggest improvement and meant that he can bowl at any stage of the innings. And even Patty [Pat Cummins] has the confidence to turn to him in the 46th or 47th over the other day to two right-handed.
So, I think he's an extremely confident bowler because of all the work he puts in and how skilful and intelligent he is around his bowling.
[Reporter:]
Steve Smith, how's he going and do you expect him to play and also do you think Sean Abbott is a chance to play? Is there a temptation to give him a go, just in case he is needed in the finals?
[Daniel Vettori:]
I think if you take it all the way back to the start to try and get those three fast bowlers through nine games in a short period of time, we always probably presume that that would be a tough challenge so Sean was always in the picture as a potential replacement for one of them - so I think that'll come into the equation once again I think just weighing up how everyone comes through these last few days.
But I don't think it'll be a case of trying to play a game just for the sake of it - it'll be a case of if one of those three fast bowlers needs a bit of a break.
Steve Smith I'm probably cold, you'd better to answer that to me I'm not really up to speed with Smudge [Steve Smith]. I don't talk to the batters.
[Reporter:]
Just on the bowling then, Mitchell Starc hasn't had the impact that he sets a very high standard from a World Cup perspective. It hasn't had the impact that he did in 15 and 19. What are the things you're sort of working on? And what do you put that down to and how can he take that next step to have more of an impact over the last few games?
[Daniel Vettori:]
I think you still see the threat every game, the ability to swing the ball in that first two to three overs and particularly at night time I think we've seen the difference between bowling in the afternoon as opposed to night. So, I think whenever a team wins that toss and has that opportunity, particularly someone like Starc, I think back to the Netherlands game in Delhi, how destructive and effective he can be. So, I think if we can have the ability to set that up, makes a big difference. Obviously tomorrow is different in a day game so that that variance won't be there. But I think we, like coaching staff, just see that threat the whole time in those first few overs. And even if it hasn't gone exactly how it was wanted to, we have no doubt that he can be destructive on his day. And I know Mitch is working hard towards that.
[Reporter:]
This being an inconsequential game as such, because you're already in the semifinals, what are the steps you are taking to make sure that you don't lose out anything, you don't miss anything?
[Daniel Vettori:]
I think the home dressing room at Eden Gardens is better than the away one, so we want second place so we can get in that dressing room.
I think you have to take every factor into it. Whether rain plays a part, I don't know. But to finish second is still important, because it has some very minimal benefits. But it will be a focus for the group to say that we can have an opportunity to finish second if we can win this game well. So, I think that's the starting point. I think standards have been set. The fact we've won six games in a row after a tough start. The fact that you want momentum going into the semifinal. All those little things. And there's personal performances. I think that's the main thing - we've had some guys who've had amazing tournaments, and then some guys who probably have lacked opportunities to impact games. And those are the guys that will be wanting to step up in this situation.
[Reporter:]
Just on Adam Zampa, he obviously had a slow start to the tournament and then has faced a lot of physical issues and, you know, obviously bowled extremely well through the middle part. Just your view of him through the tournament, what you've liked about his World Cup?
[Daniel Vettori:]
Yeah, it was obviously a very difficult start through injuries and illness to be able to actually play. I think probably the first three games was a bit of a - well it was an amazing effort because I think he was pretty close to pulling out against Pakistan. Fitness test right up to just before the toss. So, to see him get through that, I think, has been the starting point. But I think his control of his length has been the best that I've seen in this period of time, particularly through those three games where he took four wickets in a row and then against England, I think his length of control. I think we all know the skills and the variations, but his ability to actually just land the ball on the spot time and time again gave most teams limited opportunities to attack him.
I think England game he didn't go for a boundary; he might not have gone for anything more than a single against two left-handers against Stokes and Moeen who are very good players to spin. I think that's been the testament in that. And I think it is all about the length of control for him, because all the other skills are there. But when you combine that with that aspect of the game as well, he's almost unplayable.
[Reporter:]
And you mentioned before about Sean Abbott and potentially having the chance tomorrow. Andrew McDonald talks a lot about balance of the attack and not straight swaps, but where does Sean fit into that? Like, what's his kind of strength, if you would like?
[Daniel Vettori:]
Well, I think he's covered all bases for Australia in the past. I think back to, I think, the Top End series a little while ago, I think he opened the bowl and did exceptionally well. We know his strengths from Big Bash, being able to book end in innings, back end in innings. And I think the role that we've most liked for our fast bowlers is that ability to come back through the middle stages and be an attacking option.
I think if he gets the opportunity he'll definitely jump into that role. So probably outside of the power player and looking to be a wicket-taking option for us. Because I think we've seen throughout the tournament it's very difficult to stop batsmen scoring apart from taking wickets and that's been a real focus for us as a bowling group.
[Reporter:]
Bangladesh and Australia played a bilateral one-day series back in 2011. After that, they played a World Cup match that got washed away in rain. Again, a Champions Trophy two years later, also that got washed out in rain. The only match got result in last World Cup.
Do you think these two sides should play more often? Because Australia are a five-time world champions, but Bangladesh are a developing side. So, what's your thought on that?
[Daniel Vettori:]
I think most teams are grappling with the schedule and then how busy it is. You think of Australian team straight after this World Cup, they're going to play five T20s against India, and then straight into a home Test summer. So, I think there's a desire for all teams to have an equal amount of games against each other, but the scheduling is so tight that it is hard to factor in. So, I think there is desire for those games to happen, but finding time is the most difficult bit.
[Reporter:]
You played against Australian teams in knockouts before, and obviously you're in the Australian camp, you've been there for a while, but there's always this talk of, once Australia get into the semifinals, beware. They have this aura. Obviously, you can't quantify aura. But do you read much into it at all, like from your experience of playing against them and now being with them?
[Daniel Vettori:]
Well, I think experience against them, you're always coming up against quality players. So, the fact that you saw those players in front of you, there was some trepidation around that. And you knew that they had that group of match winners that could win the game. And I think that's the same here. When you look through the team list, you see obviously Maxwell from the last innings, but everyone of that batting group can step up and take a game away. And the bowling group is so experienced and so skilful. But I think the main factor is just probably the confidence coming in from winning six games in a row, and hopefully it's seven games in a row leading into a semifinal. I think that's the thing that will give the team the most, I suppose, comfort around heading into that, particularly against South Africa, who outplayed us in the second game of the tournament. I think the fact that if we're coming off these seven wins, hopefully, that'll mitigate that performance in that second game.
[Reporter:]
And you just said earlier that you don't speak much to the batters, but Marnus [Labuschagne] definitely speaks a lot to you.
Just his role, Dan, before the World Cup began, there was a lot of talk of him and Steve Smith potentially not playing together for the makeup of the side but based on how he's gone do you think he still has a role in there or will it come down to him or Marcus Stoinis or any of those combinations?
[Daniel Vettori:]
I think because the tournament whether it's been injuries or illness that we've had to sort of be makeshift the whole way through. So, the way that Marnus played, and certainly think of the Sri Lankan innings where he was able to get us through, I think his style of play. And he was coming off the back end of the South African series where he was pretty dominant through that. So, I think we've seen Marnus at his best, how good he can be at one-day cricket, but I think that probably applies for all of the eight batters, if you look at it like that, including the all-rounders.
I think it is going to be a balancing act with the bowling group who's available, and then the type of wicket as well. I think all those things come into play. But stylistically I think there's no reason why the two of them can't play together. I don't think there's anything inhibiting that at all.
[Reporter:]
So, Australia have now played at multiple venues. So, do you think at any point spinners have been impacted by due to the same extent as they sometimes do during the IPL months?
[Daniel Vettori:]
We're definitely concerned about it in Ahmedabad. I think that affected our conversations around the toss because I think two days before at training was some of the dampest, I've seen, so we were concerned and I think that was part of the reason that England bowled first.
But I think the thing that overrides all that is that first 10 to 15 overs with swing bowling and seam bowling has been a huge part of the tournament. And so, teams are geared up towards batting first to try and utilise that period. And it may be sometimes affecting the spin bowler, but I think if you think back to that game Zampa 3 for 21 didn't affect him, umpires are allowing the change of ball. So, I think there's a lot of things in favour to make you think you can work through that dew aspect, but it's not it's not ideal but I think there's enough there in the first 15 overs for the fast bowlers to work through it.
[Reporter:]
You have played against Bangladesh a lot and you work with them as a coach, you work closely with the spinners, so obviously you have a very good idea about Bangladesh. So how much input you are giving, and Bangladesh didn't have a particularly good World Cup. So how do you see them as an opponent in general?
[Daniel Vettori:]
I think like most teams, you go through the individuals and you start realizing how good they are. And so, when they turn up as a team and you've done your scouting and planning, you see them at their absolute best. And not having Shakib here is obviously a big factor. But Mushfiqur, Mahmudullah - they're experienced players who've scored a lot of World Cup runs. And we're expecting both Mehedi’s to play in this game. So, Mahedi Hasan is one of my favourite cricketers. That's little Mahedi, not big Mahedy - and I think he's a fantastic bowler. And both of them are fantastic bowlers. So, if they get their opportunity, we understand how good they are and how effective they can be, and particularly in a day game where I think the toss is not going to be such a big deal. The wicket could slow up and we could actually see spin playing more of a part in the back end.
[Reporter:]
Long tournament, how the batting has come up and because of IPL like conditions, what has been the challenge for the batters? And Max’s innings - has it papered over any concerns?
[Daniel Vettori:]
I think like I've suggested that period, 10 to 15 overs, I mean, Naveen [ul Haq] was exceptional in the last game for Afghanistan. Some swing bowling there that was so impressive. So, I think as a batting group, you have to be aware of that. And it's almost fighting through that first 10 overs, because as we saw from Maxwell, albeit one of the best things you've seen, you can score at the back end of the innings but that first 10 overs can really put a hole in it and we've seen that as a bowling group and we've been able to get teams in that position. I think back to the first game against India when they were three down very early on, could have got [Virat] Kohli out, but if you get through that period, you can bat and bat for long periods of time. So, I think that's the messaging to the batting group that it's going to be tough at the start, but if you can get through that period there are runs available.