“He’s too close to the team” - Former Australia coach’s unique take on selector George Bailey during BGT 2024-25
Former Australia player and head coach Darren Lehmann has opined that chief selector George Bailey should maintain distance from the squad so that he can make decisions without being emotionally attached. Bailey, the former Australia white-ball captain, has been a part of the traveling contingent since his appointment in 2021.
Australia's recent selection calls have faced a lot of criticism, particularly regarding finding David Warner's successor and the lack of a transition plan, with several squad members in the twilight of their careers.
Lehmann opined that several players in the current setup should have stepped away a long time ago, and blamed the selector for not making the tough call.
"A lot of players go too long before retiring or being forced out. Or selectors aren't strong enough to actually stop players playing. Are players playing too long? History shows in the last little bit, maybe they have been," Lehmann said on commentary (via ABC Sport).
"In my opinion, he's too close to the team. I would like him sitting up watching in a selectors' box somewhere and be able to make his own decisions," he added.
George Bailey had recently copped criticism from former Australia wicketkeeper Ian Healy for making his way onto the ground and congratulating the Indian team after their 295-run win in Perth in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy series opener.
"You actually get too emotional and you care about the players" - Lehmann on the perils of being close to the setup as a selector like George Bailey
George Bailey has a lot of high-profile decisions to make in the near future. The pressure remains strong on the likes of Usman Khawaja, Steve Smith, Marnus Labuschagne, and Mitchell Marsh, amid their inconsistency. Strong domestic performers like Sam Konstas and Beau Webster, among others, are waiting on the sidelines.
"My preference is the selector to be able to make decisions within a selection group and deliver a hard message if they have to. Make a hard decision if they have to for the betterment of Australian cricket," Lehmann said in the same discussion.
"Now, you can't do that sometimes if you're too close because you actually get too emotional and you care about the players. As a selector, I cared about the players, as a coach you do, but sometimes you actually get too close and you forget about what's out there," he concluded.
The future of the aging bowling attack and the inevitable transition are other aspects that need attention.