Garth's Diagnosis: For Melbourne Stars, Winning the 'Close Games' Is the Real Test

What Kim Garth said after the 15-run loss to Perth Scorchers was not just a match review. It was a self-audit of a team that, for the past few years, has been putting itself in winning positions only to forget how to close the door. Speaking on Cricket Australia's official podcast 'The Scoop', the Stars' pace bowler admitted that the team is 'not able to get over the line in close games' and that this is the biggest hurdle to their title aspirations. This article examines that statement, and also explains what the Stars' real problem is—and is not—in this early stage of WBBL|12. Melbourne Stars have played three matches this season, winning just one. The 15-run defeat to Perth Scorchers was not a last-ball thriller; it is a margin that is a bit too large to be called 'close' in T20 terms. But the essence of Garth's statement is that the team often puts itself in a position to win and then loses. She also said this problem has been 'over the past few years', meaning it is not just a crisis of this season but a structural weakness. Garth blamed herself for one of her batting decisions—she was lbw attempting a reverse sweep against leg-spinner Alana King in the Perth match. This is a high-risk shot that often does not go the batter's way, especially when the ball is turning from the leg-spinner's hand into the pads. For a lower-order batter, choosing such a shot while chasing is a miscalibration of risk and reward. Garth said she has 'lost sleep' over the shot, which shows a sense of accountability within the team, but also signals that the mental weight of losses is weighing on the players. The Stars' problem is not limited to one shot by Garth. In T20 cricket, winning close games is all about discipline in death overs (16-20) with bat and ball. Garth's statement does not make it clear whether the bowling side or the batting side is weaker, but it is certain that there is a lack of ability to make decisions under pressure in the final overs. The Cricket Australia article provides no data—no powerplay information, no death-overs economy, no player averages or strike rates. So, assessing the Stars' true strength or weakness based only on Garth's statement and one loss is risky. But Garth's statement points to another thing—the team's mental framework. A senior player saying 'we have been doing this for a few years' suggests this is not just a technical but a cultural problem. In a T20 league, where every match matters, losing close games becomes a habit that seeps into the subconscious of players. The Stars have talent—an international experienced bowler like Garth, and the team often gets into good positions—but the knack of crossing the winning line is lost somewhere. Looking at it from a contrarian angle, is the Stars' problem really 'close games'? A 15-run margin is not small in T20. This loss was not as 'close' as Garth is making it out to be. Perhaps the problem is not just the final overs but the strategy of the entire match—like slowing down in the middle overs or losing early wickets. But there is no data in this article on these aspects, so it is hard to say whether this is just an excuse or the truth. Another point: Garth named Alana King, which shows the team is preparing according to matchups. This is a positive sign that the team is working professionally. Looking at the WBBL's commercial ecosystem, this article itself carries a promotional aspect. It is based on Cricket Australia's podcast 'The Scoop', available weekly on YouTube. This shows the league is trying to connect directly with audiences through its media products. In women's cricket, where coverage is limited, such podcasts humanise players and expand the league's reach. But it is also true that board-run media has its own bias—they do not show team weaknesses as harshly as independent media would. If the Stars are to become title contenders, they must learn the art of winning 'close games'. This means better decision-making in death-overs batting, discipline in bowling and, above all, stopping the panic under pressure. Garth's statement is a warning—if the team does not solve this problem not just mentally but technically and strategically, this season too will be full of 'close losses'. There is a lot of cricket left in the league, but the early signs are not good. When the Stars take the field next, do not just look at the score—look at their decisions in the last five overs. That is where it will be decided whether they are truly 'contenders' or just a 'good team'.