Sloppy fielding threatens to cost Australia victory in their ODI tri-series final, with Glenn Maxwell vowing to set a better standard.
Australia have long prided themselves on holding catches and half-chances, cutting off singles and creating run-outs.
But in this month's tri-series they have lacked their usual spark against West Indies and South Africa, handing out too many reprieves and cheap runs.
Maxwell knows the issue could decide the final, which starts in Barbados at 3am (AEST) on Monday.
"We've been pretty average in the field," Maxwell said .
"We are going to continue to work on it over the next few days ... it's a massive part of the game.
"It's pretty bad for the team if you're not pulling your weight.
"I know I'll be back on the training track this week, trying to work on those high balls."
Maxwell, arguably Australia's best fielder, said he let the team down by failing to complete two tight catches on the rope in their virtual semi-final against West Indies.
"I'd back myself to take them, nine out of 10," he said.
"Those 12 runs could have been costly. It sort of felt like I owed the team.
"Fielders like myself, Steve Smith and Aaron Finch - we've got to set the standard for the rest.
Smith and stand-in coach Justin Langer have both publicly highlighted fielding as a recent concern, the latter even dedicated an entire training session to the discipline shortly after landing in Barbados.
The skipper led the way by snaring a sensational slips catch during the side's last-start win over West Indies.
But his team didn't follow.
Matthew Wade dropped a one-handed catch when Marlon Samuels was on 65 and West Indies were 3-132 in the 29th over.
Samuels scored 125 and didn't fall until the final ball of the innings, sharing a 192-run stand with Denesh Ramdin that lifted the hosts to 8-282.
"I felt like we just tried to cruise a little bit and sort of wait for them to make a mistake instead of still going hard at them," Maxwell said.
South Africa and West Indies will on Saturday (AEST) battle for the other spot in the tri-series final.
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