Former Australian cricketer Glenn McGrath speaks during a press conference in Chennai on July 17, 2017. / AFP PHOTO / ARUN SANKAR (Photo credit should read ARUN SANKAR/AFP/Getty Images)
Australian legend Glenn McGrath has called on Australia to play a more fearless brand of cricket.
The comment from one of the greatest pace bowlers of all time follow Australia's demoralising performance at the T20 World Cup on home soil.
Defending the trophy they won 12 months ago in the United Arab Emirates, Australia didn't make it out of the group stage with a loss to New Zealand followed by opportunities to improve net run rate disregarded in matches against Sri Lanka, Ireland and Afghanistan.
Australia's slow nature with the bat against Sri Lanka, a failure to capitalise on Ireland being 5 for 25, and just a four-run win against Afghanistan, ultimately played an enormous part in the tournament hosts making it out of the group stage.
Instead, England, who took their place in the second round with a superior net run rate, were able to hammer India in the first semi-final at the Adelaide Oval, before beating Pakistan in the final at the Melbourne Cricket Ground to become the world champions, a title they will now hold until mid-2024 when the next T20 World Cup is held in the United States of America and West Indies.
In the meantime, Australia play a Border-Gavaskar Test series in India, an Ashes series in England and an ODI World Cup in India, while questions around the make up of the T20 team will continue with David Warner this week suggesting he will still be playing, while captain Aaron Finch has refused to speculate on his own future after a poor tournament and his retirement from the 50-over format after home series against Zimbabwe and New Zealand to kick-off the summer.
Regardless, McGrath told AAP that Australia must play a more fearless brand of cricket as England have done.
"The Australian team always played fearless cricket," McGrath told AAP.
"I wonder now if they are playing with more fear of losing.
"You just have to go out and back yourselves. That is the brand of cricket England are playing at the moment.
"When you play that brand of cricket things tend to go your way more.
Australia were famous for doing exactly that during the era of McGrath, who played in a team of legends like Ricky Ponting, Shane Warne and Adam Gilchrist.
England currently hold the ODI and T20 World Cup trophies, however, McGrath said they aren't the best of all time, and that Australia's team of that era could have given them a run for their money.
"I would have to disagree with (England being the best)," McGrath said.
"There have been some quality and amazing teams over the years.
"I would like to say we could give them a decent run for their money, if not better than that."