Shane Bond on RR taking things to assess squad for next year while expressing disappointment about losing in key moments.
Shane Bond on hopes that the squad uses the remaining five games to lay a strong foundation for next year.
“We’re probably out of the tournament, but that doesn’t mean there’s not a lot to play for,” he said ahead of Monday’s home fixture against Gujarat Titans. “We want to make sure we finish the season strong and continue playing well.
“Also, for individuals there’s a lot to play for. For next season, wanting to stay with the franchise, there’s always that up. For me it’s been really disappointing. I think we’re all competitive, we want to win and when you’ve got a bunch of people who have worked really hard like our guys have, I don’t expect them to just turn up and go through the motions.”
With three of those defeats occurring in chases they seemed to control—twice failing to score nine runs off the penultimate over and once requiring just 18 off 12 with two set batters—RR is hoping to end a five-match losing slide. Bond vehemently denied claims that RR’s bowling, aside from Jofra Archer, appeared “toothless” in light of these lost chases.
“Toothless might be a little bit harsh,” he said. “The last three games, perhaps we should have chased and won. We’ve played pretty well over the last three games; we just haven’t won a couple of key moments. And so that’s why we’re sitting at the rear end of the table where perhaps we could have sat somewhere more in the middle.
“We’ve had some big overs, there’s no denying that. We’ve had some bowlers who have had some tough days, but that’s probably been the same for a number of bowlers and teams throughout the tournament. So when you say toothless, what do you mean? I think collectively the bowling unit, especially over the last three games, have done a pretty good job and kept the opposition to scores perhaps we should have chased down.
“I suppose the stuff that’s hardest is that for 35 overs of games we’ve played really well and in fact have been in control in some games and probably got into positions where we should have won. So you have to give credit to the opposition. They were good enough in those tight moments to go over the top of us and win those games. I suppose that’s what hurts.”