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Healy hits back at Di Venuto and "inconsistent rules"
SEN ⢠ July 11th, 2025 2:48 pm
Former Test cricketer Ian Healy has fired back at Australian batting coach Michael Di Venuto.
Last month, Healy criticised Di Venuto on the basis that Australiaâs batting had fallen in form since his return to coaching the side in 2021.
Speaking to the press in the lead up to Australiaâs third test against the West Indies in Jamaica, Di Venuto said he was disappointed by Healyâs criticism, noting that batting has become more difficult with more unpredictable conditions compared to yesteryear. Â Â
âDisappointing, but thatâs Healsâ opinion, isnât it?â he said.
âWe donât hide behind the fact that we havenât functioned as a unit for the last couple of years.
âBut conditions, ball changes, everything like that, itâs hard work, domestic cricket as well.
âI think gone are the days, the era that I played, where theyâre flat wickets. So you had 15, 20 blokes averaging 50, 60, 80, 100 in domestic cricket and the same in Test cricket.
âThe legends that played through that time, they were playing on very good wickets as well. So conditions have changed, balls have changed. Itâs a lot tougher.
âIf he's so worried about it, he can call me.â
Responding to Di Venutoâs comments, Healy was adamant that if players were unable to cope with the tougher conditions, then they shouldnât be selected for the side.
âHe mentions very quickly how difficult batting has become,â Healy said on SENQâs Breakfast.
âSo, itâs swinging and seaming (on) the pitches last summer out here in Australia were lively, really lively.
âBut theyâre applying inconsistent rules for the likes of Konstas, Khawaja and Green compared to McSweeney. Whereâs he?
âSo batting is more difficult, then thatâs even more reason why I should call for balance.
âYou need to be balanced watching the ball closely; your bat playing perfect, and youâre a chance (of playing).
âIf you havenât got any of that when itâs swinging and seaming and becomes harder, youâre no chance.â
Australia will begin its third and final test against the West Indies at Sabina Park in Kingston on Sunday at 4:30am (AEST).
SEN will have live coverage of the test match across its radio network and on the SEN app.
