Steve Smith had a simple message for Australia's batsmen after their failures led to a eight-run loss to New Zealand in the World Twenty20.
Bat smarter.
Smith was worried about the side's middle-overs malaise prior to their World T20 opener.
The skipper made it clear to the 15-man squad they should keep the scoreboard ticking over but avoid handing over wickets with sloppy slogging.
Smith found himself reiterating the same message after Australia raced to 0-44 in Dharamsala but finished 9-134.
"The batters are to blame for this one. We didn't apply ourselves well enough and didn't get those partnerships throughout the middle," Smith said.
"Which really cost us.
"We just didn't bat well enough after seven overs up to about 15 (overs). We kept losing wickets in clumps and weren't able to get any partnerships together."
Mitch Marsh and Ashton Agar clubbed sixes to give their side a sniff of victory, leaving them chasing 27 runs off the final three overs.
But it was too big an ask.
"We've got a lot of power in the back end but it's no use if we don't have the wickets in the shed to use it," Smith said.
"We got off to a pretty good start today with the bat - can't blame our first six overs.
"We started really well it was just that middle period again that we come undone. We've got to find a way to get a few partnerships."
Usman Khawaja was needlessly run out attempting a second run, while David Warner and Glenn Maxwell were both caught attempting to clear the rope.
Smith noted it was up to each individual to work out their best way to face the middle overs, which more often than not are delivered by spinners.
"It might not be about going after the ball and trying to hit fours and sixes. It might be about getting lots of singles and getting off strike, lots of twos," the 26-year-old said.
"That's something we haven't done so well and we didn't do it well again today.
"It's up to each individual to have a plan ... to make sure we get through those 7-15 overs. Because if we do that, I'm confident we can win a lot of games of (T20) cricket."
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