Latest news with #DiVenuto
Sydney Morning Herald
11-07-2025
- Sport
- Sydney Morning Herald
‘Is he a selector?' Di Venuto responds to Broad criticism of top order
Di Venuto, who made more than 25,000 first-class runs, accepted Australia's top order had been below its best over the past couple of years but implored people to give the likes of Konstas and Green time to prosper. Green made a hard-fought half century in Australia's second Test victory in Grenada, while Konstas was out for 25 and a duck, taking his overall Test average to 18.25 from eight innings. 'I think there is a lot of [Sheffield] Shield cricket leading into that first Ashes Test. Guys in form I dare say will get picked. At the moment, there's no point sitting down and trying to nut something out when you're three months away,' Di Venuto said. 'We don't hide behind the fact that we haven't functioned as a unit for the last couple of years. Take out the Sri Lanka series where we were outstanding in spinning conditions, it's been really hard work. We've relied on individual brilliance to get us totals. Batting averages have come down and so too the bowling averages. That's just the way it is.' Meanwhile, Di Venuto also addressed recent comments made Healy after Australia's shock world Test championship loss to South Africa. 'Australian cricket's batting head coach and every state batting coach [should be under pressure] because there's not enough runs being scored around the nation,' Healy said on SEN. 'Michael Di Venuto – a friend of mine who is a good coach and a good man – has held the job since mid-2021. In this time, our national team batting has regressed in performance at Test level. That's all that's important to me, the performance.' In response, Di Venuto said: 'It was disappointing, but that's Heals' opinion, isn't it? I can't really control that. Asked if he'd spoken to Healy, Di Venuto replied: 'No. If he's so worried about it, he can call me. There's no issues there. We're comfortable with where we're at. 'It's hard work domestic cricket … [and] now in Test cricket. I think gone are the days in the era that I played in where they're flat wickets. You had 15 or 20 blokes averaging 50, 60, 80 [or] 100 in domestic cricket and the same in Test cricket. 'The legends that played through that time, they were playing on very good wickets as well. Conditions have changed, balls have changed. 'We've got to be patient with these guys. Is [Konstas] good enough? Absolutely he's good enough. Loading 'Steve Waugh, one of our greats, took 27 Tests before he got a hundred. We've just got to be careful how we judge some people. 'Matthew Hayden is another one. How long did it take Haydos to get used to Test cricket? Now there's someone who absolutely dominated domestic cricket for years … but it took him a few times to get the hang of Test cricket before he started to dominate Test cricket. '[It is] tough for people to hang young people after a few Tests, and especially when we're playing the conditions that we are.' Meanwhile, fast bowler Josh Hazlewood is set to be rested from Australia's upcoming T20 series against the West Indies. Hazlewood, as expected, will play the third Test in Jamaica.
The Age
11-07-2025
- Sport
- The Age
‘Is he a selector?' Di Venuto responds to Broad criticism of top order
Di Venuto, who made more than 25,000 first-class runs, accepted Australia's top order had been below its best over the past couple of years but implored people to give the likes of Konstas and Green time to prosper. Green made a hard-fought half century in Australia's second Test victory in Grenada, while Konstas was out for 25 and a duck, taking his overall Test average to 18.25 from eight innings. 'I think there is a lot of [Sheffield] Shield cricket leading into that first Ashes Test. Guys in form I dare say will get picked. At the moment, there's no point sitting down and trying to nut something out when you're three months away,' Di Venuto said. 'We don't hide behind the fact that we haven't functioned as a unit for the last couple of years. Take out the Sri Lanka series where we were outstanding in spinning conditions, it's been really hard work. We've relied on individual brilliance to get us totals. Batting averages have come down and so too the bowling averages. That's just the way it is.' Meanwhile, Di Venuto also addressed recent comments made Healy after Australia's shock world Test championship loss to South Africa. 'Australian cricket's batting head coach and every state batting coach [should be under pressure] because there's not enough runs being scored around the nation,' Healy said on SEN. 'Michael Di Venuto – a friend of mine who is a good coach and a good man – has held the job since mid-2021. In this time, our national team batting has regressed in performance at Test level. That's all that's important to me, the performance.' In response, Di Venuto said: 'It was disappointing, but that's Heals' opinion, isn't it? I can't really control that. Asked if he'd spoken to Healy, Di Venuto replied: 'No. If he's so worried about it, he can call me. There's no issues there. We're comfortable with where we're at. 'It's hard work domestic cricket … [and] now in Test cricket. I think gone are the days in the era that I played in where they're flat wickets. You had 15 or 20 blokes averaging 50, 60, 80 [or] 100 in domestic cricket and the same in Test cricket. 'The legends that played through that time, they were playing on very good wickets as well. Conditions have changed, balls have changed. 'We've got to be patient with these guys. Is [Konstas] good enough? Absolutely he's good enough. Loading 'Steve Waugh, one of our greats, took 27 Tests before he got a hundred. We've just got to be careful how we judge some people. 'Matthew Hayden is another one. How long did it take Haydos to get used to Test cricket? Now there's someone who absolutely dominated domestic cricket for years … but it took him a few times to get the hang of Test cricket before he started to dominate Test cricket. '[It is] tough for people to hang young people after a few Tests, and especially when we're playing the conditions that we are.' Meanwhile, fast bowler Josh Hazlewood is set to be rested from Australia's upcoming T20 series against the West Indies. Hazlewood, as expected, will play the third Test in Jamaica.
The Advertiser
10-07-2025
- Sport
- The Advertiser
Those days are gone: Australia play down low returns
Australia's batting coach Michael Di Venuto has hit back at critics of the top order, pointing out runs are drying up across the world and not just in Australia's Test team. Di Venuto conceded this week that the top order had not been functioning as a unit in recent years, but insisted recent criticism of his team was off the mark. Questions linger over Australia's batting ahead of the Ashes, with low returns during the Frank Worrell Trophy against West Indies and last month's Test Championship final. Usman Khawaja has one score above 20 in six innings, while neither Sam Konstas or Marnus Labuschagne have scored beyond 25 opening alongside him. Cameron Green got a much-needed half-century in the second innings in Grenada last week, while Steve Smith's return of 71 proved invaluable. Australia's top order will face another tough examination in Jamaica from Sunday (AEDT), with a day-night Test at Sabina Park after lights were approved by the ICC. Those returns have prompted criticism from the likes of Stuart Broad and Ian Healy, but Di Venuto insisted the lack of runs was not a problem exclusive to Australia. "Test cricket is hard and when you get conditions that we've had probably in the last couple of years in Australia, it's really hard," Di Venuto told media in Jamaica."It's around the world as well, batting has been difficult in the last couple of years, give or take a few series here and there. "Gone are the days, the era that I played, where they're flat wickets. You had 15, 20 blokes averaging 50, 60, 80, 100 in domestic cricket and the same in Test cricket. "The legends that played through that time, they were playing on very good wickets as well. "Conditions have changed (and) balls have changed." Di Venuto also urged patience with Konstas, whose returns continue to capture attention since his sparkling 60 on debut against India on Boxing Day. The 19-year-old has made scores of three, five, 25 and a duck in Australia's two Test wins, albeit in matches where runs have been difficult and no player has scored a century. "(Konstas) showed some encouraging signs in the last Test match and it will take time," Di Venuto said. "If we think back to some of our greats, Steve Waugh took 27 Tests before he got his first hundred. "We're asking a young man to go out and have instant success. The game doesn't work like that. "Sometimes it does, and he did really well in his first Test match and first innings. But the game is hard and there's some skilful bowlers out there." Australia's batting coach Michael Di Venuto has hit back at critics of the top order, pointing out runs are drying up across the world and not just in Australia's Test team. Di Venuto conceded this week that the top order had not been functioning as a unit in recent years, but insisted recent criticism of his team was off the mark. Questions linger over Australia's batting ahead of the Ashes, with low returns during the Frank Worrell Trophy against West Indies and last month's Test Championship final. Usman Khawaja has one score above 20 in six innings, while neither Sam Konstas or Marnus Labuschagne have scored beyond 25 opening alongside him. Cameron Green got a much-needed half-century in the second innings in Grenada last week, while Steve Smith's return of 71 proved invaluable. Australia's top order will face another tough examination in Jamaica from Sunday (AEDT), with a day-night Test at Sabina Park after lights were approved by the ICC. Those returns have prompted criticism from the likes of Stuart Broad and Ian Healy, but Di Venuto insisted the lack of runs was not a problem exclusive to Australia. "Test cricket is hard and when you get conditions that we've had probably in the last couple of years in Australia, it's really hard," Di Venuto told media in Jamaica."It's around the world as well, batting has been difficult in the last couple of years, give or take a few series here and there. "Gone are the days, the era that I played, where they're flat wickets. You had 15, 20 blokes averaging 50, 60, 80, 100 in domestic cricket and the same in Test cricket. "The legends that played through that time, they were playing on very good wickets as well. "Conditions have changed (and) balls have changed." Di Venuto also urged patience with Konstas, whose returns continue to capture attention since his sparkling 60 on debut against India on Boxing Day. The 19-year-old has made scores of three, five, 25 and a duck in Australia's two Test wins, albeit in matches where runs have been difficult and no player has scored a century. "(Konstas) showed some encouraging signs in the last Test match and it will take time," Di Venuto said. "If we think back to some of our greats, Steve Waugh took 27 Tests before he got his first hundred. "We're asking a young man to go out and have instant success. The game doesn't work like that. "Sometimes it does, and he did really well in his first Test match and first innings. But the game is hard and there's some skilful bowlers out there." Australia's batting coach Michael Di Venuto has hit back at critics of the top order, pointing out runs are drying up across the world and not just in Australia's Test team. Di Venuto conceded this week that the top order had not been functioning as a unit in recent years, but insisted recent criticism of his team was off the mark. Questions linger over Australia's batting ahead of the Ashes, with low returns during the Frank Worrell Trophy against West Indies and last month's Test Championship final. Usman Khawaja has one score above 20 in six innings, while neither Sam Konstas or Marnus Labuschagne have scored beyond 25 opening alongside him. Cameron Green got a much-needed half-century in the second innings in Grenada last week, while Steve Smith's return of 71 proved invaluable. Australia's top order will face another tough examination in Jamaica from Sunday (AEDT), with a day-night Test at Sabina Park after lights were approved by the ICC. Those returns have prompted criticism from the likes of Stuart Broad and Ian Healy, but Di Venuto insisted the lack of runs was not a problem exclusive to Australia. "Test cricket is hard and when you get conditions that we've had probably in the last couple of years in Australia, it's really hard," Di Venuto told media in Jamaica."It's around the world as well, batting has been difficult in the last couple of years, give or take a few series here and there. "Gone are the days, the era that I played, where they're flat wickets. You had 15, 20 blokes averaging 50, 60, 80, 100 in domestic cricket and the same in Test cricket. "The legends that played through that time, they were playing on very good wickets as well. "Conditions have changed (and) balls have changed." Di Venuto also urged patience with Konstas, whose returns continue to capture attention since his sparkling 60 on debut against India on Boxing Day. The 19-year-old has made scores of three, five, 25 and a duck in Australia's two Test wins, albeit in matches where runs have been difficult and no player has scored a century. "(Konstas) showed some encouraging signs in the last Test match and it will take time," Di Venuto said. "If we think back to some of our greats, Steve Waugh took 27 Tests before he got his first hundred. "We're asking a young man to go out and have instant success. The game doesn't work like that. "Sometimes it does, and he did really well in his first Test match and first innings. But the game is hard and there's some skilful bowlers out there."
Perth Now
10-07-2025
- Sport
- Perth Now
Those days are gone: Australia play down low returns
Australia's batting coach Michael Di Venuto has hit back at critics of the top order, pointing out runs are drying up across the world and not just in Australia's Test team. Di Venuto conceded this week that the top order had not been functioning as a unit in recent years, but insisted recent criticism of his team was off the mark. Questions linger over Australia's batting ahead of the Ashes, with low returns during the Frank Worrell Trophy against West Indies and last month's Test Championship final. Usman Khawaja has one score above 20 in six innings, while neither Sam Konstas or Marnus Labuschagne have scored beyond 25 opening alongside him. Cameron Green got a much-needed half-century in the second innings in Grenada last week, while Steve Smith's return of 71 proved invaluable. Australia's top order will face another tough examination in Jamaica from Sunday (AEDT), with a day-night Test at Sabina Park after lights were approved by the ICC. Those returns have prompted criticism from the likes of Stuart Broad and Ian Healy, but Di Venuto insisted the lack of runs was not a problem exclusive to Australia. "Test cricket is hard and when you get conditions that we've had probably in the last couple of years in Australia, it's really hard," Di Venuto told media in Jamaica."It's around the world as well, batting has been difficult in the last couple of years, give or take a few series here and there. "Gone are the days, the era that I played, where they're flat wickets. You had 15, 20 blokes averaging 50, 60, 80, 100 in domestic cricket and the same in Test cricket. "The legends that played through that time, they were playing on very good wickets as well. "Conditions have changed (and) balls have changed." Di Venuto also urged patience with Konstas, whose returns continue to capture attention since his sparkling 60 on debut against India on Boxing Day. The 19-year-old has made scores of three, five, 25 and a duck in Australia's two Test wins, albeit in matches where runs have been difficult and no player has scored a century. "(Konstas) showed some encouraging signs in the last Test match and it will take time," Di Venuto said. "If we think back to some of our greats, Steve Waugh took 27 Tests before he got his first hundred. "We're asking a young man to go out and have instant success. The game doesn't work like that. "Sometimes it does, and he did really well in his first Test match and first innings. But the game is hard and there's some skilful bowlers out there."
Sydney Morning Herald
10-07-2025
- Sport
- Sydney Morning Herald
‘Is he a selector?' Di Venuto responds to concerns about Australian top order
Di Venuto, who made more than 25,000 first-class runs, accepted Australia's top order had been below its best over the past couple of years but implored people to give the likes of Konstas and Green time to prosper. Green made a hard-fought half century in Australia's second Test victory in Grenada, while Konstas was out for 25 and a duck, taking his overall Test average to 18.25 from eight innings. 'I think there is a lot of [Sheffield] Shield cricket leading into that first Ashes Test. Guys in form I dare say will get picked. At the moment, there's no point sitting down and trying to nut something out when you're three months away,' Di Venuto said. 'We don't hide behind the fact that we haven't functioned as a unit for the last couple of years. Take out the Sri Lanka series where we were outstanding in spinning conditions, it's been really hard work. We've relied on individual brilliance to get us totals. Batting averages have come down and so too the bowling averages. That's just the way it is.' Meanwhile, Di Venuto also addressed recent comments made Healy after Australia's shock world Test championship loss to South Africa. 'Australian cricket's batting head coach and every state batting coach [should be under pressure] because there's not enough runs being scored around the nation,' Healy said on SEN. 'Michael Di Venuto – a friend of mine who is a good coach and a good man – has held the job since mid-2021. In this time, our national team batting has regressed in performance at Test level. That's all that's important to me, the performance.' In response, Di Venuto said: 'It was disappointing, but that's Heals' opinion, isn't it? I can't really control that. Asked if he'd spoken to Healy, Di Venuto replied: 'No. If he's so worried about it, he can call me. There's no issues there. We're comfortable with where we're at. 'It's hard work domestic cricket … [and] now in Test cricket. I think gone are the days in the era that I played in where they're flat wickets. You had 15 or 20 blokes averaging 50, 60, 80 [or] 100 in domestic cricket and the same in Test cricket. 'The legends that played through that time, they were playing on very good wickets as well. Conditions have changed, balls have changed. 'We've got to be patient with these guys. Is [Konstas] good enough? Absolutely he's good enough. Loading 'Steve Waugh, one of our greats, took 27 Tests before he got a hundred. We've just got to be careful how we judge some people. 'Matthew Hayden is another one. How long did it take Haydos to get used to Test cricket? Now there's someone who absolutely dominated domestic cricket for years … but it took him a few times to get the hang of Test cricket before he started to dominate Test cricket. '[It is] tough for people to hang young people after a few Tests, and especially when we're playing the conditions that we are.' Meanwhile, fast bowler Josh Hazlewood is set to be rested from Australia's upcoming T20 series against the West Indies. Hazlewood, as expected, will play the third Test in Jamaica.
