'We're always seeking to learn' - CA chief Nick Hockley on Australia's T20 World Cup performance

Cricket Australia CEO Nick Hockey has broken his silence on Australia's performance in the recently-concluded T20 World Cup 2024. Mitchell Marsh and Co. faced a disappointing exit from the biennial event as they faced two successive defeats in the Super Eight stage, against Afghanistan and the eventual champions India.

The fortune of Mitchell Marsh’s men was left relying on the result of the last Super Eight game between Bangladesh and Afghanistan, where they required the former to win. But to their dismay, Afghanistan won by eight runs to knock them out of the tournament.

“Our high-performance teams debrief every campaign. We're always seeking to learn. We're always seeking to get better. When we do well and we win, we debrief. When we don't do so well and we come off second best, [then also] we debrief and see what we can learn,” Hockley said while answering CricTracker's query in a press conference on Wednesday. “So the coaches, the selectors, the player, everyone will sit down and debrief the players, leaders... and we'll see what learnings we can take forward from this."

Also read: Would be happy to play a role in revival of Pakistan-India series: CA chief Nick Hockley

Hockley defends decision to name Marsh as captain 

Speaking on the decision of appointing Marsh as captain despite having two-format World Champion skipper, Pat Cummins, in the squad, Hockley said: “We have an experienced group of players and a particularly experienced group of leaders within the team. The national selection panel felt that Mitch [Marsh] was most appropriately qualified. It [the amount of work and responsibility of being captain of a national side] can't be underestimated.

“In this team, there are several players who played in Dubai in [T20 World Cup] 2021, and a large number of crossover players who played in the [ODI] World Cup in 2023. And the player leaders, whether captains, vice captains, or other senior players, all work to support each other... as we saw in 2022 in Australia.”

The head of the Board also revealed his concern about the result of the last Super Eight game between Afghanistan and Bangladesh. Further, he congratulated Rohit Sharma-led India for lifting the title after defeating South Africa by seven runs in the fina.

“It only takes one game. The margins of error are very, very small. I was sitting up late watching Afghanistan take on Bangladesh and I think the fortunes of that game came right down to the wire. So, there's no margin for error. But I think it's a very, very difficult tournament to win. I just want to congratulate India on their campaign. I thought they played brilliantly. I also thought South Africa ran them close,” he concluded.