Australia still have plenty of work to do ahead of next year’s Champions Trophy despite claiming a triangular series win in the Caribbean, captain Steve Smith has stressed.
All-rounder Mitchell Marsh’s bowling and wicketkeeper Matthew Wade’s batting powered the world’s No 1 ranked one-day international side to a 58-run win against West Indies in the final of the tournament, which also included South Africa.
But the Aussies can improve in many areas, according to Smith.
Australia captain Steve Smith celebrates after his side beat West Indies to win the tri-series in the Caribbean
Australia beat the host nation by 58 runs to secure victory in a competition which also included South Africa
‘I was pleased with the way we scrapped today,’ he said. ‘I am using that word a lot. But that’s been bit of a theme in this series with the kind of wickets we have been playing on.
‘I am pleased we were able to get the job done.’
The Champions Trophy, featuring the top eight teams in the world, will be held next June in England and Wales where Australia have been grouped with the hosts, New Zealand and Bangladesh.
In Sunday’s final, West Indies made a brisk start in their chase of 271 with a 49-run opening stand between Johnson Charles and Andre Fletcher before Australia wrestled back control, and Smith said his bowlers need to start better with the new ball.
‘We have to continue to start well with the ball,’ the 27-year-old said. ‘In the last probably three of four series we have been up against some pretty dynamic opening batters. They have got the better of us at the start.
Mitchell Marsh impressed with the ball for Smith’s side as they continue to plan for the Champions Trophy
Wicketkeeper Matthew Wade made an important contribution with the bat against the West Indies on Sunday
‘We have been lucky enough to pull it back in the middle overs and bowl pretty well at the death. We will make things a lot easier for ourselves if we start really well, hit good areas and execute our plans.’
Smith was confident that Australia’s young team will only get better as they play more together.
‘We still got a lot of areas to work on. Our fielding still needs a lot of work. We need to have the energy we had today in every game,’ he said.
‘Hopefully as this group continues to play more together we will continue to learn each other’s games and continue to gel well as a team.’
Adam Zampa (right) celebrates the dismissal of Kieron Pollard with team-mate Glenn Maxwell
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